The Iliad

I flunked the
Second grade
Because I refused
To read"See Dick,
See Jane” and cared
Not a jot for Spot.
Also, my teacher detested
Me and I detested her,
And I thwarted her.
That summer I was given
A narrative version of
Homer’s the Iliad and loved it,
The battles, combats and
The Greeks defending
Their embattled ships,
Hector and Achilles.
I devoured the Trojan War,
Odysseus and Greek followed
By Norse mythology.
I have not stopped
Reading for seven decades.
History, geography, classic
Novels, poetry, science
Fiction and much more.
Books and maps
Now have become
My life and outlet for
A restless mind and
Irrepressible curiosity.
I learned from the
Mistakes of others
When I could and
Cushioned heartache
And hardship with the
Experience of others
Gleaned from books.
To paraphrase
R L Stephenson,
A book is a friend
We give ourselves.
I am too fond of books
And complicated games,
I find dealing with
People too often
Confusing and I
Keep looking for
The rule book
When there
Is none.
Hence, with books
I use my head,
But with people,
My heart.