Reading is the key
says Mark Espin
of the Centre for the Book
on my black and white radio
the day before World Book Day
(Monday, April 23)

Reading is the key
Reading is forever
A non-stop journey
say all the slogans
on that one day
World Book Day

(Just one day in a whole year
like the other rituals
we go through every other day
16 days of activism against
women and child abuse)

Reading is the key
Reading is forever
A non-stop journey
What has it unlocked for you
Where has it taken you
this ability to read

World Book Day
April 23 every year
has it passed you by
what did it do
for you, for others,
who cannot read

Reading is the key
Reading is forever
Education For All
(Justice for All
Houses for All
Security and Comfort)

A non-stop journey
Has yours begun?

Sunday, April 22, 2007, prompted by Mark Espin and others, interviewed on Victor Dlamini’s Literature programme on SAFM the day before World Book Day.