An ode to the book characters of childhood

In little Avonlea her imaginings began,

My life is full of dreams because of that Anne.

The life of an invalid is not in vain,

It was Cousin Helen that taught me of the school of pain.

There is always something of which to be glad,

Pollyanna’s game teaches me to find the good in the bad.

Along with the goats, on the hills she roams,

Heidi reminds me to appreciate my home.

She fought to be a writer and not just a wife,

Sybylla tells me to be in charge of my life.

Though she was first rude and quite contrary,

I know I can improve, just like Mary.

I never need to be scared of death,

I learnt that lesson from sweet little Beth.

When joy is lost and life is dark,

It’s Judy that helps me find my spark.

When illness makes my life a mess,

Sara reminds me that I am a princess.

My pain and fatigue mean I sometimes struggle to cope,

But what Katy did was recover and that gives me hope.

My fictitious friends are there for me always, helping me as much as they can,

Katy, Sara, Judy, Beth, Mary, Sybylla, Heidi, Pollyanna, Cousin Helen, and that Anne.

by Saffron Canny-Smith