“Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.”
- – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book.” – Groucho Marx
“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” – Oscar Wilde
*
You are what you read
That is what he said
I read it today
On his blog
One of the lines
On his blog post
Re-reading Borges
Caught my attention
Waved that carrot
Of taking a line
For a walk
Across a snowy white sheet
Virginal papers – now splattered
With specks of black – letters
Letters forming words
Tony’s poem puts it out there
You are what you read
I think back to the diet of this year
My summer sustained by
Hemingway – a little light reading
Then on to Sinclair Lewis
Earlier in the year there were
Antoine Saint Exupery
The Little Prince – resplendent
En français et anglais
Speaking to me in my
Annual reading of each
Jasper Fforde for humor
There is always a generous
Helping of poetry on the menu
Baudelaire, Paul Éluard, en français
Recently discovered, Serge Roy
With a generous helping
Of Dorothy Parker and Neruda,
Razor sharp wit and passion
Books about writing – reminding
Me, to just write
Journal of a Swedish ancestor
Crossing the plains circa 1890’s
The book thief, several memoirs
Biographies of the great and everyday people
Tony, it is just as you say
You are what you read
Great Lea! And what a list; you have had a wonderful infusion of words over the year! And your poem is proof we can write about anything if we put our minds and hearts into it. Needless to say, the quotes are fabulous. I particularly like the first one; that would make ror a perfect day. 😊 xxx
Merci Christine! As for the ‘poem’ it was just a matter of a line in one of Tony’s poems that stuck in my head and we know what a jumbled place that is! 😉 I liked both the first and second quote for different reasons but had to add some Wilde just for cheek! 🙂 xxx
I like that one too!!😄 xxx
:)) xxx
Thought provoking, Lea….and of course Oscar Wilde always lifts my spirits (there’s something about his and Dorothy Parker’s wit that always clears the air!)
Now I’m thinking about people who don’t, or hardly, read at all….are they nothing?
They are both a treat and very medicinal. I think one should read from one or the other most every day! 😉
I would never insinuate that anyone is “nothing”. Yet I believe what we read tells something about us. Of course, there are also the thousands of books in those piles waiting to be read… :))
Yes..what we wish to become… 🙂
🙂
oh i have to re-read The Little Prince … love that book
the last real book i read was the book thief
started the dirty havana trilogy by recomendation of a blogger friend but that’s not such an easy read – seems to be very authentic – yet i just don’t find the time and calm at the moment to sit down and read… sigh
I enjoyed the book thief but haven’t heard of the dirty havana trilogy… you do stir up trouble! The kind I love. Merci beaucoup.
I love Le petit prince!
So many good books…
I am reading a certain poet I know. I purchased her book of poetry this morning and so far I am loving it Lea. Reality is Relative is a beautiful book and you should be so proud.
Oh, so you are the one! Just kidding but it is ever so slow. Thank you Kath, you are so kind. I am anxious to get the new book out. I finished it some time ago but there are things I must wait on… c’est la vie! (That is for Willow) 😉
The next collection was all written here and much more positive! xx
Loving the Wilde quote–naughty but nice–smashing poem 🙂
Thank you Polly!
I think a bit of Wilde, Dorothy Parker or Mae West can set any day off with a grin! 😉
Excellent poem! We are indeed what we read. I find it very theraputic to switch off after a long day by reading, I would have gone insane long ago otherwise – lol 😉 the day is always made better by an Oscar Wilde quote, my favourite! Great post Lea xx
Merci beaucoup Becka! Life without books, that would be sensory deprivation to the nth degree! I’m glad you enjoyed the Wilde quote. Just think what a great blogger he could have been… 😉
You’re right there! He would have been a legend in the blogging world 😀 xx
As would my favourite, Jonathan Swift! 🙂 xx