Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Yesterday, John and I were talking about poems we remembered from Childhood. He has a favourite book "Alligator Pie" (which he's just bought for the baby) full of very Canadian poems. He remembers reading it and re-reading it.

I had favourites too, except that I can't remember the titles of the books at all. I had a few anthologies of children's poetry. A lot of stuff by A.A. Milne, a certain Mr. A. Nonny Mouse, Lewis Carroll and others.

Yes. I read VORACIOUSLY as a child (and still do).

There was one particular poem that I remembered last night. I had no idea who wrote it or what it was called, all I remembered was that I loved the way the words sounded when I said them out loud.

The internet is great for research. I found it:

ROMANCE

by: W.J. Turner

HEN I was but thirteen or so

I went into a golden land,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Took me by the hand.




My father died, my brother too,

They passed like fleeting dreams,

I stood where Popocatapetl

In the sunlight gleams.




I dimly heard the master's voice

And boys far-off at play,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Had stolen me away.




I walked in a great golden dream

To and fro from school--

Shining Popocatapetl

The dusty streets did rule.




I walked home with a gold dark boy,

And never a word I'd say,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

Had taken my speech away:




I gazed entranced upon his face

Fairer than any flower--

O shining Popocatapetl

It was thy magic hour:




The houses, people, traffic seemed

Thin fading dreams by day,

Chimborazo, Cotopaxi

They had stolen my soul away!

'Romance' is reprinted from An Anthology of Modern Verse. Ed. A. Methuen. London: Methuen & Co., 1921.