When we read
we first need eyes, ears, or fingers.
Eyes that see
ears that listen
fingers that feel
but all that read.
We need an open heart, an open mind, an open spirit
to welcome
an open book.
Books that sing, scare, and care.
Books that love
Books that hug
Books that see
you
and
me
she
and
he
them
and
they.
Books that say
“We! Are! ALL! Here!”
For that, we need ALL the books.
Next, we need a cozy corner
or maybe a pillow
if we read inside.
Or a blanket
and the softer shade of trees
if we read outside.
Sometimes what we need
to read
is just a little space
or a little extra time
where we can squeeze
books into the cracks of
waiting.
Waiting to be picked up
Waiting for “are we there yet?”
Waiting for things
to begin
or waiting for them
to end.
Maybe here and there
we even need some tissues
(or sometimes sleeves)
when the feelings flow.
Because readers mostly read
to laugh
to cry
to wonder and
to learn.
To fill up and
to float off.
To sympathize and to empathize
and no one should stop you
and no one should tell you
you’re not allowed to.
When we read
we can read alone
or not so alone.
We can read out loud
to others
or just in our own heads
to ourselves.
However we choose it
(and we do get to choose it)
reading is a muscle
we get to feed
we need to flex.
A muscle to build up
and build out
in order to stretch wide our souls
so we don’t feel that we are living our lives
alone.
When we read, we need books on the shelves
books in the desks
and many
many
MANY
books
stacked
around
beds.
Left on chairs
resting in the firelight
lit by windows
or even
sneaked
under
pillows
The books can tell tales of fairies and forests
of science and stars
of wars and worries.
They might even detangle how we are thinking
and what we are feeling.
And who we might
even dream
of being.
Because we have a right to read
a right to learn and yearn
a right to understand and expand.
We have a right to read.
In order to read, we need authors to write the books
and librarians to like the books.
We need teachers to choose the books
and schools to let teachers teach the books
so we can read the books.
Because we deserve ALL the books.
In order to read, we need freedom.
The freedom to choose.
The freedom to include.
The freedom to like
because reading is our right.
A book that’s very much for you
might not be the book for me.
And that’s okay.
Because I don’t have to like it
but no one should take away your right to it.
Our right to it.
Our right to them.
Our right to grow
our right to improve
our right to know
the lies
from the truths.
We deserve the freedom to learn
the freedom to yearn.
The freedom to turn
the world
into a better place.
A world that includes
rather than excludes.
A world that replaces hate
with an embrace.
Where all are free to find their unique voices
and all are free to make their own choices.
When we read
in freedom
we get to see who we are
we get to be who we are.
And that is our right.
Our right to ALL the books …
when we read.
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