Do you like poetry?

Our mother read poetry many times to us when we were little. She read out-loud beautifully, with great skill and inflection. Reading out-loud is an art, and she owned it.

I have spent many hours in practice of it over the years. Reading hundreds of poems and books to our children when young, I feel I have gained, perhaps, a bit of Moms’ amazing talent.

The way she could transport us into the magical world of childhood poems was thrilling and at times downright scary. I just knew if I got sassy with company or “ole folks” visiting, “They was two great big Black Things a-standin’ by my side…ready to “snatch me through the ceilin’ ‘fore I’d knowed what I’s about!” Mom had read ‘Little Orphant Annie‘, by James Whitcomb Riley plenty enough for me to know I had better behave myself when “ole folks was there”. I can still hear her laughter at the way she had all we little twins mesmerized by the poems she read.

How we laughed when she would read ‘The Raggedy Man‘, also by James Whitcomb Riley:

O The Raggedy Man! He works fer Pa;

An’ he’s the goodest man ever you saw!

He comes to our house every day,

An’ waters the horses, an’ feeds ’em hay;

An’ he opens the shed–an’ we all ist laugh

When he drives out our little, old, wobble-ly calf….

And on goes this delightfully, happy, imaginative poem.

None of us can even look at the moon without hearing the rhymes of ‘The Man in the Moon’, yet another delightful poem of James Whitcomb Riley—

‘Said the Raggedy Man on a hot afternoon, “My! Sakes! What a lot o’mistakes some little folks makes on The Man in the Moon!

But people that’s b’en up to see him, like me, and calls on him frequent and intimutly,

Might drop a few facts that would interest you, Clean! Through!—if you wanted ’em to—….’

Eugene Field is another poet Mom enjoyed reading to we children. To this day I refer to ‘The Duel’, by Eugene Field, as it so aptly describes interactions between people at times…

‘The gingham dog and the calico cat

Side by side on the table sat…’

I have read all these poems and many, many more to our children, and now grandchildren. The sing-song words create fantastic pictures in our heads, whether young or old. Indeed, poetry in meant to be read aloud to get the full joy and magic out of it.

There are many wonderful poetry books to choose from. Take turns having members of your family read aloud. It only takes more practice to get good at it, and it is great fun!

Do you have a favorite poem? Please share!

P.S. I would be remiss if I failed to mention this all-time family favorite. It is for all the twins in the world—‘The Twins’, by Henry S. Leigh:

In form and feature, face and limb,

I grew so like my brother,

That folks got taking me for him,

And each for one another…

This poem is a MUST for every twin. Guaranteed to make you laugh! Enjoy!

“There is something wonderful about a senior dog.” I texted to my twinster recently.

“Like what?” came her reply.

I began typing: “They are comfortable with their lives; they are quietly calm; they are easy to please; they are more relaxed, to name a few.”

“You know,” I continued, “They know where they belong, and if well cared for, they are happy with that. They have the most understanding eyes. A ton of patience. There is also a great understanding between them and us, if cultivated.”

“I agree,” she said, ” Just wanted to see what you would say.”

All those great attributes between a dog and a human takes time and deliberate energy to develop. Once developed, they last a lifetime. A forever friendship, even long past the life of the dog.

Such was the friendship between Dandy and me. He was ‘my pal’. We walked the trail of life together, nearly everyday, for over 10 years. I was asked often while out walking what his breeding was. The standard answer was always the same, “He’s 100% Pure Pound!”

He has been gone now for nearly three months. We got our puppy last Spring, so thankfully, the two were able to spend several months together. I wanted so much for Dandy to teach HoneyPie how life worked out here on our little farm, and what her duties were. He was a great teacher. Their five months together was well-spent before our Dandy lost his battle with an infectious disease no vet could figure out. Through it all our vet did a fine job.

HoneyPie stepped right into his paw prints. She has taken his posts where he faithfully watched over the farm, and sleeps in the places that were his alone. She is a grand replacement to my pal..

Not all who wander are lost.

This is a popular line from JRR Tolkien’s famous book series, Lord of the Rings. Specifically, Fellowship of the Ring.

Aragorn wandered all over upon learning of his royal heritage as future king. He was wanting to learn about the land and the people he would one day be ruling over. Thus, he had a specific reason and goal to his wanderings.

It seems that was the point of this well-known line, i.e. to have a goal in life. To know why and what one is wandering for. A good lesson for all of us.

This series is a great adventurous read with much excitement. You will need to read the series to find out how Aragorn does!

There’s Treasure Everywhere.

This is the title to one of the books of my most favorite comics ever—Calvin and Hobbes.

Created by Bill Watterson, Calvin is a creative, mischievous little boy who owns a stuffed tiger, Hobbes. Hobbes comes to life when no one is around, and they have grand adventures together.

Boyhood is captured so remarkably well in these comics. They are filled with joie de vivre, and keep the reader laughing.

Now that is something we all could use more of. Laughter! There truly is treasure everywhere if only we had the eyes and will to see.

I was 31 years old when BR was foaled on February 12, 1986. Truly a lifetime ago. He died this Thursday, September 23, 2021. I am now 64 years old. He was 33 years old when he died. A good long life for a miniature horse. A good long life for the both of us.

What does one say about a good old horse? Who would ever understand except those that have had one in their lives? Or any dear animal for that matter for any length of time? Animal owners are a different breed of folks. The type of folks that can not imagine their lives without an animal in it. Forget the dirt, hair, and all the mess involved with animal ownership. We love our animals way too much it seems. And yet “for people like us”, as my dearest friend says, “animals are a beautiful place…God is good.”

So just what do those of us who love our animals say when one dies? I am a photographer, so for me, photos say it all. So here, please enjoy the good life of a grand horse I was blessed to have in my life for many, many years.