Tuesday, February 6, 2018

101 Books, Number 48



48: The Red Pony, 1933, by John Steinbeck (1902–68)

Another book I read (and why?)
In high school when I had to try
To make myself read anything,
Save comic books (to which I’d cling).

I don’t remember very much—
Just Steinbeck’s very gentle touch—
And sadness at the very heart,
A trait of Steinbeck’s finest art.

As years went on, I read much more—
The Grapes of Wrath? Oh, to the core
That book so much affected me—
The Joads and all the tragedy.

And Charley-travels (with his pet,
His dog that surely did forget
The journey that the author took
And wrote that most revealing book*

About our country—USA!
He saw our strengths and flaws each day).
He died in 1968–
But left his books—some truly great.

*Travels with Charley, 1960

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