I’m back with another audio recording! Who am I?
Recently I watched an interview with the famous iconoclast comedian Lenny Bruce and Nat Hentoff. In the interview, Hentoff asks Bruce why he does comedy, and Bruce says, “Because it’s fun. It’s fun to say a poem in front of everybody.” After hearing that, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It is fun. It’s also fun to listen to a poem read aloud. And it’s fun to talk about it after. I want to do more of that.
So occasionally, I will read you a poem—or sometimes just a few lines from a book—really anything that stands out and is interesting.
Today’s poem is “If Only” by Ruth Krauss, a poem she originally published in 1969 but was later included in Minestrone: A Ruth Krauss Selection in 1981.
I won’t always lead into the reading with a backstory, but for today’s reading, it felt needed. If you want to skip to the poem, it’s at 08:07 of the recording.
What do you think of this poem? Share your thoughts in the comments.
In This Episode:
Read:
Stories Are to Share: 5 Ruth Krauss Books (with Carter Higgins)
A Story is to Share: How Ruth Krauss Found Another Way to Tell a Tale (2022) written by Carter Higgins and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault.
A Very Special House (1953) written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
A Hole is to Dig (1952) written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
Open House for Butterflies (1960) written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
The Carrot Seed (1945) written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Crockett Johnson.
Is This You? (1955) written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Crockett Johnson
Roar Like a Dandelion (2019) written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier.
Minestrone: A Ruth Krauss Selection (1981)
Listen:
“To is a Preposition; Come is a Verb” performed by Lenny Bruce.
(I incorrectly called this poem “To Come” in the episode.)
Watch:
Nat Hentoff Interviews Lenny Bruce from Lenny Bruce Without Tears (1972). Directed by Fred Baker.
(Disclaimer: Audio recordings are even more terrifying than newsletters because there are more opportunities for mistakes. There are a few in mine, but most don't warrant mentioning. If anything is glaring, please feel free to message me.)
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You can read past Moonbow articles in the archive and follow me on Instagram @TaylorSterling.
Look Under the Bed for Poetry