This one will give you a glimpse into the world
Of yours truly, from the time she was a little girl
The passion which was at the age of five ignited
Was in the form of printed words that left her excited-
I am going to tell you how books made an entrance
At different stages of my life, became my best friends-
Starting from a cartoon strip in a news periodical
Foraying into a book that took me on a journey magical
Through the solar system and the stars, teaching me
About the universe vast; I still recall quite gleefully
The colorful illustrations and facts fascinating-
I’ ve yet to find a book that captivating…
As I grew older, I thrived on a diet steady
Of Secret Seven and Nancy Drew, always ready
To solve difficult mysteries, mostly imaginary
Thinking I’d acquired skills extraordinary
Interspersed were folk-tales from lands far away
Making me yearn to travel to those places some day..
Then there were books that left an impression
Indelible, like the one translated from Russian
About a young boy and his doppelganger electronic
I longed for a friend (robot) with senses supersonic…
How can I forget friendship that sprouted spontaneously,
Over shared love for Agatha Christie’s outstanding mysteries
Over the next three years, my friend and I scoured the library
For any evidence of Dame Christie’s prowess literary
Read and discussed every single book ever written
By her, you can see the extent to which we were smitten..
Through the tumultuous years of adolescence
Powerful love stories had a constant presence
In my life- thus Bronte sisters and Jane Austen
Were integral parts of my personal heaven
I read works of literature, that were for me
Finest instances of human art and ingenuity
From Hugo and Hardy to Maugham and Tolstoy
Reading classics gave me unparalleled joy
These days I find myself gravitating
Towards stories of immigrants; captivating
As they are, in those pages I try to find
Succour for my lonely heart and mind
Get lost in powerful stories that reflect
How I feel today, they are perfect
For lightening the burden carried by me
As an immigrant who once crossed the sea
Thus Jhumpa Lahiri, Khaled Hosseini are a part
Of my bookshelves, and of my heart..
As I go through life, the genres might shift
But reading books gives me that indescribable lift
That always keeps me thirsting for more
There are always books for me to devour!
(Image source: www.notonthehighstreet.com)
Oh, Nancy Drew! I had almost the entire series which my mother sold after I moved from NJ down here to Florida. I about cried….
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