Ten writers for children. All with something to say.

9/15/10

Summer Musings

Hi fellow readers, writers, and dreamers,
It was great fun reading all your posts and comments. I agree that reading books is a requirement in our line of work, even if it doesn't feel like work. Here are a few of my favorites from the summer. I also read a number of short stories, some of which you may have already read in school: The Lottery, Heidegger's Experiment, Yours, The Story of an Hour, and The Tell-Tale Heart. They're worth a re-read if it's been awhile.




I also want to share a poem that knocked my socks off (where did that saying originate, I wonder).
Oranges
by Gary Soto
The first time I walked
With a girl, I was twelve,
Cold, and weighted down
With two oranges in my jacket.
December. Frost cracking
Beneath my steps, my breath
Before me, then gone,
As I walked toward
Her house, the one whose
Porch light burned yellow
Night and day, in any weather.
A dog barked at me, until
She came out pulling
At her gloves, face bright
With rouge. I smiled,
Touched her shoulder, and led
Her down the street, across
A used car lot and a line
Of newly planted trees,
Until we were breathing
Before a drugstore. We
Entered, the tiny bell
Bringing a saleslady
Down a narrow aisle of goods.
I turned to the candies
Tiered like bleachers,
And asked what she wanted -
Light in her eyes, a smile
Starting at the corners
Of her mouth. I fingered
A nickle in my pocket,
And when she lifted a chocolate
That cost a dime,
I didn’t say anything.
I took the nickle from
My pocket, then an orange,
And set them quietly on
The counter. When I looked up,
The lady’s eyes met mine,
And held them, knowing
Very well what it was all
About.

Outside,
A few cars hissing past,
Fog hanging like old
Coats between the trees.
I took my girl’s hand
In mine for two blocks,
Then released it to let
Her unwrap the chocolate.
I peeled my orange
That was so bright against
The gray of December
That, from some distance,
Someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands.

8 comments:

Lauren said...

Diane, we posted today on the same day!
What a gorgeous poem is right-- it beautifully describes an era past- capturing the emotions and the visuals so poignantly. Thank you for posting this.

Mark said...

I'm a day late posting, myself!! Thought I'd warm up with some comments first...

Reading a great poem is always a great way to start the day! Thanks for sharing, Lauren, along with the reminder that rereading classics is never wasted time!

Diane Adams said...

Every time I read that poem I smile. Thanks for letting me share it with you.

Edie Hemingway said...

The poem makes me smile, too, Diane! Thanks for sharing it and for sharing your recent reading list. Always nice to see a book by one of our own spuds up there. Christy's The East-West House is stunning--both in text and illustrations.

David LaRochelle said...

Gorgeous poem.

And I'm happy to see one of my all-time favorite picture books on your list: THE DIRTY COWBOY by Amy Timberlake. It was Adam Rex's first picture book, and he has gone on to great success - and Amy's story is simply hilarious. By all means check this one out!

Stephanie said...

That's a great poem:)

Diane Adams said...

David,
You should hear Amy read the book with her husband doing deadpan sound effects in the background. I laughed until I cried.

Christy said...

Nice visuals in that poem-love the fire in the hands. Thanks for including me in your summer reads.