A Child's Calendar

Child's Calendar
John Updike, illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkett/ published 1965 by Knopf

Inscribed by Mr. Updike himself to my two sisters, I don't remember this book from growing up, but it must have been hanging around. I found it tucked away on a shelf in my mom's library a few days back and have been entranced by it ever since. 12 simple poems ~ one for every month of the year. All pretty interesting and vivid. Take August for instance...

The sprinkler twirls.
The summer wanes.
The pavement wears
Popsicle stains.

The playground grass
is worn to dust.
The weary swings
Creak, creak with rust.

The trees are bored
With being green.
Some people leave
The local scene

And go to seaside
Bungalows
And take off nearly
all their clothes.

The poems are really great, but I am all about these illustrations. Very evocative of an era... very Ice Storm... very hip without trying ~ smooth without being too cool. A great pick for the English lit buff or someone who loves stark line drawings with a ton of personality.