A poem about reading

As part of a continuing education course I'm taking, I had to write a poem about the importance of reading and sharing books and I had to publish it on a blog. This is probably not the type of blog my instructor had in mind, considering it's a course on teaching. But since I am not currently teaching, and don't have a classroom blog, here is the poem. If anyone actually reads it, please judge gently. ;)

An Invitation

By Kristen Johnson

Taken from a good friend’s hand

And carried to a strange new land.

But not so different than my own,

For the stars and sun and moon still shone

And the people tried to make wrong things right

And seek for justice in a hard fought fight.

While others shared smiles and laughter and fun,

Where stalwart friendships couldn’t be undone.

Some had eyes blazing and faces of red,

Too frustrated to share what was in their head.

Mysteries unfolded before my eyes

As I pondered the actions and thoughts of the wise.

Yet I marveled at the weakness of a boy or girl

Who lost from their grasp a priceless pearl.

These people, these places, these happenings

Stirred and awakened my imaginings.

Until I became them and they became me

A welcoming, beckoning community.

And I feeling curiously incomplete

Invited another to retreat

Away to this strange yet familiar land

By putting it in their eager hand.