I Suppose That Someone Somewhere Did the Sums
I suppose that someone somewhere did the sums
And in bell-shaped curve placed the vast results
And presented to a group of learned ones
The Lifetime Totals of Words Read by Adults.
The curve would climb from zero up through the host
Of numbers of words, each the last succeeding,
Until, somewhere near those who read the most,
Would be a point that represents my reading.
Back before I started grammar school,
When Dick and Jane were as yet unknown to me,
Before I knew a single phonics rule,
And lines of words were still a mystery,
Even then, with uncomprehending looks,
I'd go to the library and visit all the books.