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Jump to navigationJump to searchWhen We Were Very Young by A A Milne and E H Shepard (view source)
Revision as of 16:04, 25 February 2016
, 16:04, 25 February 2016no edit summary
I've never been fond of poetry: there's something missing in my soul as I cannot see the benefits of saying something in verse form when it could be expressed more simply. I often wish that I was different and just occasionally some verse will touch me: it has happened with [[:Category:Wendy Cope|Wendy Cope]] and now with this delightful volume from A A Milne. As I read there was a curious mixture of ''good'' memories from childhood (and they were all too rare) and new material which struck a chord. The 'decorations' by E H Shepard didn't do any harm either!
I did wonder if the book would feel dated. It was first published in 1924, but the content is timeless (apart from the ready availability of household staff for the middle class) and taps into the great enjoyments of childhood, such as the joy of being out in the rain in a mac, wellies and waterproof hat (''Happiness'') or watching the sea, chin in hand and believing yourself alone in the world (''The Island''). There's a gentle debunking of childhood terrors, such as the fear of stepping on the lines between the paving in ''Lines and Squares'' or what might be behind the curtain in ''Brownie''. (Nanny isn't certain what's there either.)
There are, of course, some old friends. ''Changing Guard at Buckingham Palace'' is a perennial favourite and if you're looking for a shorter book of poems then we can recommend [[Changing Guard at Buckingham Palace by A A Milne and E H Shepard|this book]]. I still remember (and recite: that was the peril of poetry in childhood - the obligation to learn and recite in front of an audience)
