When my son was young, I read him a picture book over and over again. It was called The Midnight Farm, written by Reeve Lindbergh and illustrated by Susan Jeffers.
I still have the copy, sans the dust jacket, and it’s almost time to give it to Hudson.
The book is a rhyming poem with a strong repetition element. These lines are a sample of the book which is also a counting or 1-2-3 book.
Here is the dark of the chair in the hall
Where one old dog curls up in a ball,
Breathing each breath with a rise and a fall
In the dark of the chair in the hall.
***
Here is the dark by the big wood stove
Where two white cats have a leftover glove
And a birthday card that was signed with love
In the dark by the big wood stove.
I think I loved this book at least as much as my son did. It won the Redbook Award for 1987, but wasn’t a Caldecott winner or honor book, which I find sad. This was Lindbergh’s first children’s book. I feel the book deserved to be honored by the Caldecott committee, but it makes me sad also because:
In 1985, Lindbergh (Charles Lindbergh’s daughter–her brother was kidnapped and died years before she was born) lost her baby boy to a seizure. The day he died, she began to write this book as a lullaby to him. Are you tearing up yet? It made me emotional to learn this.
Now I find this also very interesting. Jane Kenyon, esteemed American poet, wrote a poem called “Let Evening Come.” It was published as the title poem in her 1990 collection. These two poems remind me of each other. They sound so similar with the emphasis on the repetition. But, more importantly, they are about the same thing.
Both poems seems to be about not being afraid of the dark, of nightfall, that we are part of a natural cycle, of nature. But with the adult poem by Kenyan readers read the theme as not to be afraid of death.
Well, certainly The Midnight Farm is about not being afraid of death, although it’s also about not being afraid of the dark for children. Perhaps it’s one of those books for children on one level and adults on another.
I read “Let Evening Come” here:
Doesn’t being afraid of death mean different things to different people?
Those poor Lindberghs.They had more grief than one family should have to endure.
I like the book and its bouncy rhythm.
So so sad. I just mentioned to Joy that Charles’ wife Anne was there when her grandson died, too. Imagine.
This will stay with me for some time.
Thanks, Amie.
I think I read everything Anne Morrow Lindbergh ever wrote. She was Charles’ wife and Reeve’s mother.
I read her years ago. Apparently she was also with her daughter when her baby died.
I’ve always loved this Jane Kenyan poem. Thank you for reading it to us! I would have loved The Midnight Farm when I was a kid.
I would have, too. I made do with All the Pretty Little Horses! I used to type up favorite poems and save them on my computer. Kenyon’s poem is one of them.
It was Misty of Chincoteague for me!
Did you like the horse book genre? Let’s face it, I liked every book I could get my hands on.
Yes, I did. 😊
They were wonderful books.
Delightful story, Luanne
Thank you so much, Derrick.
Loved hearing your voice!
Hah, thank you!
Loved your reading, Luanne. Another thought on Reeve’s book. In times of grief, believing our loved ones are not in a dark and scary place is of some comfort. I think her words help her comfort herself in her immense grief. Read the book in that light, and its depth and stunning genius become even more apparent.
So well put, John. Yes, I agree completely. And with the Kenyon poem, she passed away from illness at age 47, so there again, she was comforting herself.
A profound journey of grief. Your voice captured that feeling.
Oh thank you so much, Rebecca!
🤗🤗🤗
I have never heard of the book though it reminds me a bit of Good Night, Moon. It sounds soothing and lovely. The poem is a bit darker and foreboding in tone.
I agree—being afraid of death means different things, depending on your religious faith and your age and your general outlook on life. For me, it means no longer being here to enjoy my family and the other pleasures of life. But at my age it’s no longer fear so much as wishing it wouldn’t happen! Alas, however,….
Yes, Good Night Moon, which I read to Hudson and actually used to teach in children’s lit. Believe it or not, there is a lot to discover about that book! I agree about depending on your religion. The Lindbergh poem doesn’t mention God so it can also be a spiritual naturalism. The Kenyon is more God-centered.
I was actually thinking that about the wishing it wouldn’t happen instead of fearing it. But even that is a form of fear.
I see fear as something that makes the heart pound, the adrenaline pump. Wishing something wouldn’t happen feels more like sadness, acceptance, recognition of mortality.
What you say makes me think that “fear of death” is really a cliched expression meant to cover a lot of bases (sorry, I had to use a cliche to analyse a cliche hahaha).
LOL! They are cliches because they work! 🙂
True. They are shorthand.
The lyrical repetition showcases how picture books are an important introduction to the appreciation of language. Thanks for sharing. So sad about its history.
Pam, it’s so true. Picture books and nursery rhymes–so important to children’s futures with language! Yes, so very sad.
As others mentioned, you do have a lovely reading voice, Luanne!
Aw, thanks so much, Jennifer!
There are so many wonderful children’s books. I hope writing the book gave her some comfort.
I wonder if you might find other poems now that are similar.
I will keep my eyes peeled. Let me know if you find any!
I was just sort of thinking out loud–you know how when you notice something, then suddenly you see it everywhere? 😊
Yes, and for me, it’s this: I don’t watch a lot of TV but the gardener has it on a lot and when I say something too often for comfort an important word or phrase of my sentence is immediately repeated on screen by an actor.
I don’t have a word repeated just like that by an actor, but often I’ll be reading a book, and then a show or movie will have a similar idea or maybe words.
It always make me think, wow, what is that thing that is happening?!
I’m tearing up just reading this. Knowing the story behind The Midnight Farm changes everything. What began as a mother’s lullaby for her son became something that could comfort children while also speaking to adults about darkness, loss, and death. I love the connection you noticed with Jane Kenyon’s “Let Evening Come.” There is something so powerful about repetition when we’re dealing with things we can’t quite put into words. Beautifully shared.
The story is so tragic, but how wonderful that she was able to use her talents to comfort herself and others. Yes, the repetition is amazing. It affects us at a physical level as well as emotional. Thanks for stopping by, Mary.
I love this book and still have my copy. I read it to my children back in the day, and now I read it to my preschoolers. I did not know the author was Charles Lindbergh’s daughter, and that she had lost her son to a seizure. Writing the book must have helped in her healing, and she knew children were afraid of the dark. What a shame her dad was not alive to enjoy her book.
I’m thrilled to know you love this book, too! I agree about her dad. Her mom was, though, and her mom was a writer.
Yes! My mother-in-law loved her writing.