“A writer is, after all, only half his book. The other half is the reader and from the reader the writer learns.” ― Pamela Lyndon Travers

Sebastian Magnani

Happy Birthday to P.L. Travers who was born on August 9, 1899, in Queensland, Australia. Her rich fantasy life propelled her to write stories and poems at an early age, and after a brief stint in the theater, she moved to London, England, to pursue a literary life, hobnobbing with Irish poets such as William Butler Yeats. The Mary Poppins tales sprang from Travers entertaining young visitors, combined with a love of mythology. The Disney film Mary Poppins made the notoriously private and prickly Travers immensely wealthy, but also unhappy. She died in London on April 23, 1996.
for more pls check: https://www.biography.com/writer/pl-travers

“Why,” said Jane, “there’s nothing in it!” “What do you mean—nothing?” demanded Mary Poppins, drawing herself up and looking as though she had been insulted. “Nothing in it, did you say?” And with that she took out from the empty bag a starched white apron and tied it round her waist. Next she unpacked a large cake of Sunlight Soap, a toothbrush, a packet of hairpins, a bottle of scent, a small folding armchair and a box of throat lozenges.” 

― P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins

“Well, what is she, then? And where did she come from?” cried the Fledgling shrilly, flapping his short wings and staring down at the cradle.

“You tell him, Annabel!” the Starling croaked.

Annabel moved her hands inside her blanket.

“I am earth and air and fire and water,” she said softly. “I come from the Dark where all things have their beginning.”

“Ah, such dark!” said the Starling softly, bending his head to his breast.

“It was dark in the egg, too,” the Fledgling cheeped.

“I come from the sea and its tides,” Annabel went on. “I come from the sky and it’s stars, I come from the sun and it’s brightness—“

“Ah, so bright!” said the starling, nodding.

“And I come from the forests of earth.”

As if in a dream, Mary Poppins rocked the cradle—to-and-fro, to-and-fro with a steady swinging movement.

“Yes?” whispered the Fledgling. 

“Slowly I moved at first,” said Annabel, “always sleeping and dreaming. I remembered all I had been and I thought of all I shall be. And when I had dreamed my dream I awoke and came swiftly.”

She paused for a moment, her blue eyes full of memories.

“And then?” Prompted the Fledgling.

“I heard the stars singing as I came and I felt warm wings about me. I passed the beasts of the jungle and came through the dark, deep waters. It was a long journey.” 

― P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins Comes Back