An Ode to Scholastic Book Fair (in Sonnet)

Shall I compare thee to pajama day?

By: Ian Knoll

The day is young and pure and so am I

When from the room Miss Adleman alights

Line Leaders rise as cheerful children cry

“Make thanks, Scholastic Fair is soon in sights!”

Down halls of crayon drawings all do pace

Past lines of lockers full and stuffed with coats

Though rules forbade us all to scream or race

Joy fills our velcro shoes and eager throats

The minutes stretch along to painful year

Like math class does before the recess bell

But soon Gymnasium doorways appear

To whisk us to where markers smell of rose.

The land of boundless books and dreams unlaced

The land where I first felt true love’s embrace.

***

We are surrounded by the tomes of yore 

The works of Stine, Osborne, and Applegate

Goosebumps, Treehouse, Animorphs we adore

Such works the masters’ ghostwriters create!

And even the non-Bookworm find joys expressed

Knickknacks and games the fair to thee imparts

Spy Gear, LeapFrog, but Oregon Trail is best

Until the love of text enshrines your heart

A place where Kinley and Riordan rule

Where books glitter and pens light up like toys

And true readers are freed from boring school

Where all is right, creation rests with poise

Yet as summer does wane and yield to school

So too must we bid greatness now adieu

For soon math class must begin (oh fate so cruel!)

Our books we wait for mom to buy still new

We leave the Fair with hearts yet full and bright

And sleep that night with books besides nightlights.