An open book,

written with words I’ve never known,

I teach myself to read

in stops

and starts

and stutters.

But reading is it’s own reward

and learning loves no other,

so I turn another page

and slowly lose my stutter.

In learning words

I learn to love

their careful application,

their oh so perfect placement

and delicate dictation.

After I’ve turned every page

I’ll read again, most every day

to know that all the words within

grow finer as they age.