by Bonnie Rennie

[Editor's Note: Here is another wonderful poem from Bonnie. What a talented woman! Her contributions to the BC have been varied: everything from profiles
of key CCB folks to articles of interest to Seniors in her long-time capacity as Chair of the "Seniors with Vision Loss Committee" including the Ebook
"How to Have A Happy Life: As a Senior Losing or Without Vision" announced in the Winter BC 2015.]

Literacy is a key to opportunity and to a meaningful life. It is a priceless commodity, perhaps most appreciated when it is absent. In honor of his birthday,
January 4, 1809, I here salute my literacy champion, Louie Braille.

I'm thinking of a hero, this month born over two hundred years ago.
A brilliant pioneer, inventor,
Who humanly speaking, allows me to see and to know.
One door to the world is through reading.
Takes us to places we could not walk otherwise.
Abstract concepts, the great stories live on paper,
Most folks glean through the work of their eyes.

Was a time, folks like me had no access.
Printed pages mocking what we had not got.
Until one of us, a French guy named Louie
Created clever code with a tactile raised dot.

Louie transformed our world giving literacy
To blind people so hungry to read.
His aptitude lighting our pathway,
Proving solutions can be born of great need.
We moderns owe a whole lot to Louie,
Even talking computers cannot take Braille's place.
Imagine if you couldn't read or write for yourself,
How unequal the competitive career race!

I, for one, am proud to say I love Louie.
I would thank him in person if I could.
Bet that he'd rather I write him a letter.
If the mail went to Heaven, then I would!