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A Used Book Store

Her glasses perched on her nose, my old friend
the Bookworm proprietor, welcomed me smiling,
and then murmured. quietly.."behave yourself" 
knowing I would  end up  at the poetry shelf.
Words, one word, a billion words..all for 
me..all for the taking. Words of love and hate, 
of brooks and fields, creatures small and great.
Words of sunshine and laughter ,sadness
and hope…of places and faces.
A coffee stain, a torn page patched with tape..
a loving inscription  on a cover page. 
Settling in my favorite chair, the tabby cat 
at my feet, I loose  myself in a land far away,
a land that grew from a poets mind and heart.
Tomorrow will come soon enough, but for this 
time, and of all these words, I am a part…

8/24/14

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Dorian Petersen Potter

Date: 9/24/2014 2:58:00 PM

Very lovely write about a used book store and poetry books and all that, including the cat and the coziness of this shop. Loved it with the stains and all...lol...so much fun, I am a book lover and am always buying books online from many places, especially from Amazon.Book hauls are so much fun and just got many new ones of Stephen King a few days ago and the ones by Charleine Harris, from the serie True Blood, about vampires. Just awesome! Hugs! xxxx D.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/29/2014 9:59:00 PM

this sounds like a very cozy bookstore!! I have never sat in one and read a book though Barnes and Nobles encourages it I guess with their little coffee cafe there in the store. This is a fascinating poem. congrats for your win. It's so nice to see your appreciation of poetry here.

Faye Gibson

Date: 8/29/2014 7:32:00 PM

Oh, how you take me to places I have been...many used book stores...the smell unique to old books and ephemera...the feel of many hands upon the pages. Love this, Barbara. Congratulations.

Charlotte Puddifoot

Date: 8/29/2014 7:14:00 PM

I think anybody who loves books would identify with this one; it's a charming, feel-good little poem, brings a smile - congrats on your win in my contest :)

Gary Bateman

Date: 8/24/2014 6:19:00 PM

Barbara, Great poem here. I think it is safe to say that all of us who write poetry and are generally involved in other forms of literature, love bookstores. I like especially going to "Used Bookstores." When I've lived several times in Washington, DC in the past, I used to frequent some such bookstores in Georgetown. Anyway, I enjoyed your poem and the lead off with the "Bookworm Proprietor." All the Best!! Cheers, Gary