Reading is the Key

by Rick Blumenberg / @RickBlumenberg

One day that stands out in my memory is the first time I went to a library. I’m not sure how old I was, perhaps second or third grade. My parents both loved to read and they not only made sure we had an education, but passed the love of reading to all their children. Partly because it was in the days before television we were all avid readers as soon as we learned.

We had a library in our home. It wasn’t large as I think of it now, but it was significant for a family of our economic level. We lived out in the country in Southeast Missouri and there was a library in nearby Charleston, the county seat. The first time I remember going to that library I was astounded that so many books were all in one place and that we could take them home to read for ourselves! To me it was one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The thing I like best about books, magazines and newspapers is that with the ability to read one can literally travel the globe and visit places we could never otherwise go because of time and cost and other such mundane limitations.

It was probably with this in mind that I wrote the simple poem below. I call it

The Key

By Rick Blumenberg

Read my child

     And none can make you poor

For reading books shall be your key

     To the strong unyielding door.

With a book and time to read it

     The whole earth you can roam,

And where others cannot travel

     You will be at home.

Read my child

     And travel far upon the deep,

Walk abroad on distant shores

     While others are asleep!

A book shall be your barque

     To sail the distant seas

And reading be your shining wing

     To soar upon the breeze.

I'm Rick Blumenberg and that's 
My View from Tanner Creek.