Agatha Christie Taught Me To Be a Book Worm

Behind a chair 
        Below a desk
 with my bare feet on a wall, in my flannel pajama or a wet swimming suit,
   
With my hands on my peanut butter and jelly toast,
          marmalade, not cherry or anything else 

Next to an ocean, ignoring the smell,
Lying in a hammock or in the grass, even on a sandy gritty beach towel.
Listening to children’s giggles, being dripped on 
                     by wet swimming suits running past
                 
I can devour a pile of books.
    History, science, animal facts, jokes, limericks, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Coleridge, Poe.
    When one grabs me and throttles me to pay attention I am lost….

I am no longer a mere mortal.
             I am in a microscope, under a kitchen floorboard, in a tulip’s leaf, 
                          I am a faery, a T-rex, a Stormtrooper, a police detective.

In a treehouse, 
            High above my neighbors, not hearing them at all,
                            Yet subconsciously hearing everything, 
          I learned to be a book worm, reading Agatha Christie first….

Written 3-08-19
Contest:  The Bookworm Poetry Contest                Sponsor: Kai Michael Neumann
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Sayers Avatar
March 7, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Love this poem Caren, it just reminded me how lost you can get in a book. thank you
Krutsinger Avatar
March 7, 2026 at 5:40 AM
thank you Wendy
Theraven Avatar
March 25, 2021 at 8:14 PM
Caren, 'With my hands on my peanut butter and jelly toast, ~~ marmalade, not cherry or anything else'. Agatha knew how to keep you glued. Shel Silverstein too. -Richard
Krutsinger Avatar
March 27, 2021 at 4:49 PM
Thank you for bringing this one to my attention, Richard.I had completely forgotten I wrote this!
Gauthier Avatar
April 13, 2019 at 12:19 PM
Love all your delightful imagery, Caren. Congrats on your well deserved podium finish.
Krutsinger Avatar
April 13, 2019 at 4:31 PM
Thank you Line. I did enjoy thinking of all the different things I could have said; but if I had it would have been an epic poem!
Haight Avatar
April 6, 2019 at 9:04 AM
Love this, Caren! You captured the powerful essence a 'book worm' in yourself with such vivid imagery! Sincere congrats on your podium win! Fave! Hugs, Sandra
Krutsinger Avatar
April 7, 2019 at 12:26 AM
Thank you Sandra; I appreciate your stopping by. Honored you faved it.
Sinha-Roy Avatar
April 6, 2019 at 4:15 AM
Congratulations,Caren on your great win.
Krutsinger Avatar
April 6, 2019 at 8:32 AM
Thank you so much. I appreciate knowing. I never look at the results of contests, that way I am never disappointed, but rather "wonderfully surprised" thanks to those of you who let me know.
Gilmour Avatar
April 6, 2019 at 4:08 AM
Congratulations Caren on your win with this wonderful descriptive write, I can picture the scene and it sounds wonderful. Kindest thoughts Ann xx
Krutsinger Avatar
April 6, 2019 at 8:33 AM
It was, it is, and I love books! In case you did not know. I used to sit in a treehouse at the top of two cottonwood trees all summer long - taking 7 library books a day - usually biographies, mysteries, ESP, science fiction, or Ancient Egypt with me and a sandwich. Sometimes I would try to take a drink but it always spilled.
Neumann Avatar
April 6, 2019 at 3:32 AM
Hi Caren. Congratulations on your win in my contest. I can hear and feel the bookworm worming. For me it all started with Enid Blyton, but the addiction is just the same. Thank you for your patience while I took so long judging the contest. I am unpacking a never ending quantity of book boxes in our new home in Spain. Kind wishes, Kai
Krutsinger Avatar
April 6, 2019 at 8:34 AM
Your home in SPAIN! Spain, Spain! Not Spain, California or Spain, England but SPAIN, SPAIN! What? When can I come visit you and should I bring a mattress? Thanks for the invite.
Mcferran Avatar
March 9, 2019 at 9:52 PM
Wonderful write (I adore Agatha Christie, too!)... ;)
Krutsinger Avatar
March 9, 2019 at 11:09 PM
Thank you. I am seeing a PATTERN of Christie fans on this site.
Faulkner Avatar
March 9, 2019 at 2:51 PM
I discovered Agatha in high school, fell in love with her books! The first one I read was 'Halloween Party' - but I think my favorite is 'Evil Under the Sun'-
Krutsinger Avatar
March 9, 2019 at 6:21 PM
"And Then There Were None" is my go-to-Agatha-Christie-Book.
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