50: My Ántonia, 1918, by Willa Cather (1873–1947)
I taught this book some years ago*—
And had not read much Cather then.
And, oh, was there a lot to know!
But I had energy, back then.
And so, Nebraska, here we come!
New Hampshire,** too (her grave is there)
And Grand Manan*** … I grew less dumb—
And soon began so much to care.
I read her books—yes, every one.
And read her published letters, too.
In fact, the latter? Letters?
Fun!
A title I got to review.****
There really is no journey like
A trip through someone’s work and days—
A trip upon an awesome pike
Where every vista can amaze.
*Fall, 2005, our “summer reading” book for juniors at Western Reserve
Academy
**She’s buried in the Old Burying Ground; Jaffrey, NH.
***An island in the Bay of Fundy (off New Brunswick); she had a summer
cottage there (still standing—we saw it).
****The Selected Letters of Willa
Cather; I reviewed it for the Cleveland
Plain Dealer, April 14, 2013.
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