Why I Love to Read

written for Anthony, a winner in the local "I Love to Read" contest

Why I Love to Read

Anthony, third grade,
hoards words on paper scraps
tucked in a Spiderman shoebox.
Mine live in a fruitcake tin,
Grandma Fruit,
squeezing juice from vowels,
consonants glaceed and diced.
Delicious sounds squirting in your mouth
making all your teeth ache.
Clthonic,
Chalice,
Crustaceous,
Scrotum.
I hope Anthony reads
that Newberry book
before he comes for tea.
Have a slice of spicy gingerbread.
Have you read Judy Blume yet?



Author's Note: Our local school district sponsored a writing contest on the theme of "Why I Love to Read"---to celebrate National Literacy Month. I was captured by Anthony's essay---he, just like me, keeps and collects words. I used scrotum in the poem because of the controversy surrounding its use in a recent children's book that won the Newberry Medal for children's literature. The book is The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. Some libraries are censoring the book---I would hate to think Anthony might miss such a savory word!



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