THE READING MOTHER

By

Strickland Gillilan

With Alternating Additions

By

Teresa Thomas Bohannon



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 TOO HAD A MOTHER who read to me

Tales of fairies who danced on the breeze,

Wings that glittered by day and glimmered by night,

Brownies and elves that played wild and free.



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 too had a Mother who read words that sang

Of wondrous lands and magic yesterdays;

Stories of Marion and Beth and Jo,

Which every girl has a right to know.



I had a Mother who read me tales

Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales, 

True to his trust till his tragic death,

Faithfulness blent with his final breath.



I too had a Mother who read to me 

Of Unicorns, and horses and fairy tales,

Full of truth and trust, cleverness and life,

And little life lessons sheathed in strife.



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.



I had a Mother who gave me the gift

Of heart truths and courage and wings to life’s journey-

Myths and legends that lend strength to the night,

Oh, that the mother of all girls were wisely thus.



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.



You may have beauty to spare and trinkets galore;

Toys and trimmings and be envied more.

But more fortunate than I you never can be --

For I had a Mother who gave me whole worlds

…and taught me to dream.