The Good Book

I was always captivated by
“Once upon a time”:
the magical invitation
into a world not mine.
The world of giants and talking animals,
the world of spies and zookeepers,
pirates, pioneers and pilots–
I followed them through deserts and oceans,
deep space, rush hour traffic,
mountains and subterranean caverns.
I puzzled things out with Nancy Drew,
yearned for justice with Black Beauty,
cried with Jane Eyre,
whistled with Tom Sawyer,
and found my way to Narnia
through a dusty old wardrobe.
The stories of people long ago,
and of people yet to be,
mingled in my mind
with the stories of people just like me.
Hours spent turning pages
have helped me more than I can say
to walk in others’ footsteps
and imagine the lives they lead.
So I give thanks for authors,
for the feel of pages between my fingers,
for libraries and bookstores and friend’s shelves.
I give thanks for literacy and leisure to read.
I praise God for the good book.