[Short Post] Tuesday Mini-Musing

I learned to read when I was 4 years old, thanks to my English teacher grandfather; reading Shel Silverstein and doing NY Times crosswords on his knee.  Many poems of “Uncle Shelby” helped shape who I am today… one of which has been on my mind a lot as of late:

Invitation:

“If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!”

Simply elegant, sweet acceptance… I’m forever grateful for being introduced to such a strange and gifted poet so early in life; I know he unknowingly helped shape not only my world-view but also my general approach to literature and people.

What/who did you learn to read from?