<p> Time to Read</p><p>I sit and think Gazing at titles Of books unread Having recognized Rush Limbaugh's reference On tonight's predictably offensive spiel To NOW "gals" As not unlike how some Refer to women In my college.</p><p>I keep rearranging my office To get it right What I need Is another lifetime To read "So many books, so little time" Triply true for a Department chair With small children Who stops to listen When her child Takes a tape measure And says, "Mama, I will weigh you." And measuring the small of my back proclaims "Mama, you are 40 three." A coincidence? my age! So I have these very sweet child-to-mama Conversations in my head But the books-they wait Patiently, their ideas Affirming my choices Of sleeping almost enough And serving students at work But pretty soon I'm going to be sad If I don't take time to read.</p><p>EDITOR'S NOTE: Jean Erdman is a prolific poet, writing about the art of teaching and life in general. </p>