The Reading Mother, by Strickland Gillilan

Sometimes when I am reading a book to my kids (and there are other good things that probably need doing at the same moment) I think of this poem and it reminds me that it is okay to keep reading. Adults and kids, grandparents and grandchildren, older sibling and younger sibling, dads and daughters, moms and sons, uncles and nieces...when big people and little people share books with each other, great things happen!

The poet uses mother and boy throughout this poem, but put yourself in the verse somehow to make it more meaningful.

I had a mother who read to me

Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea.

Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth;

"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a Mother who read me lays

Of ancient and gallant and golden days;

Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,

Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales

Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,

True to his trust till his tragic death,

Faithfulness lent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things

That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-

Stories that stir with an upward touch.

Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be --

I had a Mother who read to me.

(Strickland Gillilan)