New Poem

The Summer Reading Program at our library has gotten underway, and to start things off (and because I occasionally become terribly bored sitting in my Reference Desk tower in the late afternoons) I composed the following poem for the Young Adult librarian, Christa:

Express Back (the theme is Express Yourself at the Library) (an odd theme, considering the decibel restrictions)

 

I, Standing atop the stairs, glance around

A tidal wave of expression crouches

Threateningly in alphabetical order.

 

Chapters, like muscles, tense

Emotions whirl, fade,

Recede too far for comfort.

 

Information preys upon the unwary,

And the careless find themselves

Swallowed whole by unintentional education.

 

I laugh. The library tiger, the tsunami

Does not frighten me. I am the bookworm

Who shall patiently digest its insides.


Now isn't that sweet. I was going to write something for Grace, the childrens' librarian, but I was nervous that the image of flesh-eating maggots would disturb the little ones. Thinking about it, though, there are two obstacles to that unfortunate scenario. Firstly, children love maggots. Secondly, re-reading the poem I realize that one doesn't actually make that connection. 

Too bad, really.

I shall have to try again for the little ones.

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