101 Books, Number 82

Favorite Books from Throughout My Life

82: The Great Gatsby, 1925, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)

I read this book in college first—

But didn’t see its wonders then.

(I wasn’t what I might have been—

In fact, in ways, I was the worst.)

But later on I taught the text—

About a decade, more or less—

And grew to love it (would you guess?)—

And you can tell what happened next:

I read Fitzgerald’s other books—

I read what he alluded to

In Gatsby. And when all was through,

I dived back in for further looks.

I went to see his home, his grave.

I chased down Zelda’s tale, as well.

I read all bios, truth to tell.

I reveled in what research gave.

I miss that book—miss students … mine.

I loved to see their faces change

When Scott began to rearrange

Their world. Oh, nothing is so fine!