loud,
no books
but encyclopedia,
hiding behind
end-table,
drapes fidgeting,
national geographics
layered open
alien
religions,
bangles elongating
necks, circular
cornfield in desert,
white-clothed
bedouin, tattered scrolls,
peking man
poems
spread on top,
stutters untwisting,
hours unwrapping,
“this is my rock
and here I run
to steal the secrets
of the sun”
——————————————–
A late as usual response to the dVerse conversation from last week about early memories of poetry. The comments surfaced a very specific memory that took a bit to unpackage.
The last four lines are from a David McCord poem in the 1964 edition of World Book’s Childcraft (volume 1, Poems and Rhymes), a book that held much of my learning-to-read years. Here is the whole wonderful poem.
This is My Rock
This is my rock
And here I run
To steal the secret of the sun;
This is my rock
And here come I
Before the night has swept the sky;
This is my rock,
This is the place
I meet the evening face to face.
Poems from in between 
17 responses to “Childcraft, 1964 ed.”
I remember those Childcraft books (and still have them). I spent much time myself looking through those as a kid. You’ve captured those moments so well.
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Thank you so much. I actually tracked down a copy of the poetry volume from a used book store. The first thing I did was smell it — alas, it was not the same (a little mildewy). But my hands were shaking reading through it. Such deep memories. Thanks again!
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Isn’t it great to relive some of our most cherished memories through poetry? Great poem, thanks for taking us there with you.
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Yea, it is. Thanks so much!
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Nice trip down memory lane. Loved the old Childcraft and the Encyclopedia Britannica. Kids these days don’t know what they’re missing. Peace, Linda
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But they have Sponge Bob! Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
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sweet memories wonderfully unfolded… I’m not familiar with childcraft books, but it was nice to read David McCord’s poem – I liked it a lot. smiles
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Thank you so much.
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Oh I love how you have turned the inspiration into poetry of your own. Wonderful, and exactly what I hope for.
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Thank you! So glad for the dVerse inspirations.
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I like the poem in your childhood memories, and how you use it as inspiration and closing words for your own work.
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Thank you very much. So nice of you to say.
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I used to sit and read the worldbook for fun. I fondly recall those days, I wonder how much kids today miss when they browse through the pages.
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Oh my. I just happened upon your blog — and then happened to open this portion on Childcraft. I literally and immediately went to my bookshelf and pulled off the only 2 remaining volumes I have (orange in color) of Childcraftv1947 edition — the year I was born. I’m certain my mother bought these – in all likelihood from a door to door salesman in those days — thinking there was some amount of status in owning encyclopedic type books. I grew up with Volume I and II — and like you, it was my first introduction to poetry. I just opened Volume I to my favorite — which I in turn read to my children and my grandchildren: “The Lamplighter” by Robert Louis Stevenson. The books have sweet sweet illustrations. Thanks so much for taking me down memory land today! I’m enjoying reading your blog. I am literally quite new to this – deciding to take poetry classes in my rejuvenatement (as opposed to retirement). I also spent a number of days doing tutorials for Word Press — and voila! I used to tell my children “Use your words” at ages 2, 3, 4 when they would utter those high pitched screams or whine. And now here I am, following the same moniker. Take a look at my About and you’ll see….again, love your work and so fun to see these posts on Childcraft! Other fun poems I grew up with from these books were Wynken Blynken and Nod, Grandpa Dropped His Glasses and The Sandman. Wondering if they’re in your edition?
lillian
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Thank you so much for your note! Alas, of the poems you mention, only Wynken, Blynken and Nod seems to have survived into the edition I had as a kid. 😦 But there are a number of Robert Louis Stevenson’s other poems. And Emily Dickenson, and Robert Frost, and A A Milne. What a great collection. Now I will need to scour some used bookstores for the 1947 edition.
So glad you paid me a visit. I look forward to reading your words! Thanks for the encouragement!
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Childcraft…magic word for me. I’m grateful you wrote so eloquently about it. Smiles…
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So glad it spoke to you. Thank you very much.
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