I Am Home
“I am home,” said the turtle, as it pulled in its head
And its feet, and its tail. “I am home, and in bed.”
“No matter what inches and inches I roam,
When the long day is done, I am always at home.
“I may go whole feet . . . even yards . . . in a day,
But I never get lost, for I’m never away
“From my snug little house and my snug little bed.
Try being a turtle! - That’s using your head!
“You can go on forever, no matter how far,
And whatever you need is wherever you are!”
(“Is there one thing I miss when I’m snuggled in tight?
Yes: there’s no room for someone to kiss me good night.”)
By John Ciardi
John Anthony Ciardi was born on 24 June 1916 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a teacher, a poet, a translator, and an etymologist. While primarily known as a poet, he also translated “Dante’s Divine Comedy,” wrote several volumes of children’s poetry, pursued etymology, contributed to the “Saturday Review” as a columnist and long-time poetry editor, and directed the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference in Vermont. In 1959, Mr. Ciardi published a book on how to read, write, and teach poetry, titled “How Does a Poem Mean?” which has proven to be among the most-used books of its kind. At the peak of his popularity in the early 1960’s, Mr. Ciardi also had a network television program on CBS, called “Accent.” John Anthony Ciardi passed on at 69 years of age on 30 March 1986 in Metuchen, New Jersey, United States of America.
“I am home,” said the turtle, as it pulled in its head
And its feet, and its tail. “I am home, and in bed.”
“No matter what inches and inches I roam,
When the long day is done, I am always at home.
“I may go whole feet . . . even yards . . . in a day,
But I never get lost, for I’m never away
“From my snug little house and my snug little bed.
Try being a turtle! - That’s using your head!
“You can go on forever, no matter how far,
And whatever you need is wherever you are!”
(“Is there one thing I miss when I’m snuggled in tight?
Yes: there’s no room for someone to kiss me good night.”)
By John Ciardi
John Anthony Ciardi was born on 24 June 1916 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a teacher, a poet, a translator, and an etymologist. While primarily known as a poet, he also translated “Dante’s Divine Comedy,” wrote several volumes of children’s poetry, pursued etymology, contributed to the “Saturday Review” as a columnist and long-time poetry editor, and directed the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference in Vermont. In 1959, Mr. Ciardi published a book on how to read, write, and teach poetry, titled “How Does a Poem Mean?” which has proven to be among the most-used books of its kind. At the peak of his popularity in the early 1960’s, Mr. Ciardi also had a network television program on CBS, called “Accent.” John Anthony Ciardi passed on at 69 years of age on 30 March 1986 in Metuchen, New Jersey, United States of America.
