I had a father who read to me
Sagas of pirates who roamed the sea
Of Tom Sawyer and Kim and Peter Pan
Carried me off to fabled lands.
I had a father who read to me
Under a green and willowy tree
Of ancient, gallant and golden days,
Stories of Robin Hood’s merry ways.
I had a father who in my room
Read me of Pooh and the cow over the moon,
Tales of Mulberry Street and Ivanhoe,
Stories every child would like to know.
You may have mountains of wealth untold,
Baskets of jewels and coffers of gold,
But richer than me you never can be—
I had a father who read to me.
– unknown
photo by Ananda; Abbaji and a very young Dewachen…setting the pace for a lifetime of reading.