Here’s a poem by G.K. Chesterton, one of the Oxford Inklings:
Gold Leaves
Lo! I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold;
Grey hairs and golden leaves cry out
The year and I are old.
In youth I sought the prince of men,
Captain in cosmic wars,
Our Titan, even the weeds would show
Defiant, to the stars.
But now a great thing in the street
Seems any human nod,
Where shift in strange democracy
The million masks of God.
In youth I sought the golden flower
Hidden in wood or wold,
But I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold.
My nephew, John, is a fine writer and the director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. I thought you might like to read his review of Children of Monsters by Jay Nordlinger. Just click here.
We had a nice poetry reading [recently] with John Schofield and Klipschutz here at the store. A fine group of poetry lovers came to absorb the spoken words together.
With news of Amazon opening a brick and mortar store, I’m marveling at the fact that our customers have chosen to shop with a smaller bookstore, a community presence, an independent presence. It is a choice you make every time you choose to shop first at your locally-owned stores instead of the big box giants. Every time I pass it, I wonder at the card-catalog near the door, full of your names, tangible evidence that you are making an effort to make sure Inklings is here for many years to come. If your name isnt yet in our Friends of Inklings card catalog, just ask us next time you are one of our special Friends of Inklings. Thank you so much.
Recently we asked some of you to tell us about some of the things you like about Inklings. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share some of those comments with you. It did our hearts so much good to hear you like us, you really like us. We treasure your encouragement. Thank you.
– Millie W said ,“I love being able to get the perfect presents from Inklings. Whether it’s a book, journal, or just a card. And the recipients always love the gifts.”
– Dori B. said, “I love the smiling faces of all the Inklings employees.”
– Kristin S. said, “I love how excited my kids get when I tell them we are going to Inklings.”
[From the electronic newsletter from Inklings Bookshop in Yakima, WA]