Fairytale World
Picture-books in Winter
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Summer fading, winter comes--
Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,
Window robins, winter rooks,
And the picture story-books.
Water now is turned to stone
Nurse and I can walk upon;
Still we find the flowing brooks
In the picture story-books.
All the pretty things put by,
Wait upon the children's eye,
Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,
In the picture story-books.
We may see how all things are
Seas and cities, near and far,
And the flying fairies' looks,
In the picture story-books.
How am I to sing your praise,
Happy chimney-corner days,
Sitting safe in nursery nooks,
Reading picture story-books?
~Robert Louis Stevenson
Ink drawing from the original book by Stevenson
When I was a child, my grandfather gave my sister and me A Child’s Garden of Verses for Christmas one year. It became my favorite book for a long time and it taught me to love the cadence and rhythm of poetry. Stevenson’s poetry always gave me comfort, hope and a sense of stability in what to most children would have been considered a less than secure situation. I loved the idea of being a child with a nurse to care for me and the safety of two parents, a comfortable home and lots of leisure time. Perhaps this book provided that sort of feeling for many children who read it growing up.
~Noelle Renee
Noelle such a perfect picture accompanying a beautiful R L Stevenson verse!! I'm sure your facial expression while reading your 'favorite book' must have been the same :) Totally engrossed and lost in a different world!!
ReplyDeleteWe did a lot of poetry during school days and I remember R L Stevenson as one of my favorites, even remember his poem "From a Railway Carriage" Loved the speed and imagery this poem created.
"Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
And charging along like troops in a battle
All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
All of the sights of the hill and the plain
Fly as thick as driving rain;
And ever again, in the wink of an eye,
Painted stations whistle by....etc..etc.."
Enjoyed what you shared today!!
xoxo
Nanka
I agree -- and while I had quite an idyllic childhood, I remember this book with such intensity. Thank you for reminding me of it --
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Elizabeth. I think that it carries us back to moments of childhood in a very special way. I still have a copy with illustrations by Jessie Wilcox Smith. I found it in a used bookstore. I treasure it.
ReplyDeletexo,
Noelle
Photo and poem make me so nostalgic for my chilhood and the pleasure of being read to.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear Borders is on the verge of bankruptcy; 24 stores in my area are to shut down. WIll "not reading" be far behind? I guess the kindles will remain. me