Craig Cornish Poet Sonnet

Lonely Libraries

(English Sonnet Rhyme in Iambic Tetrameter)

What tomes in lonely corners dwell
where undisturbed and rimmed with dust,
forgotten tales that once were held
and stained with tears and love and lust -
now sit untouched like aging queens;
more interest in apparent heirs
like Kindle tablets - pageless screens,
dull bootless script where no one shares.
So empty when a page is turned,
no weight of paper in its place
and when it's done no conference yearned -
there is no book ... just empty space.
The halls where all the books are kept
will haunt until their dust is swept.

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Susan Ashley November 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM Ah, so true, dear Craig. This sonnet takes my breath away. Every line is special like "now sit untouched like aging queens" -indeed, so it is when the luster fades.. but I was especially struck by "So empty when a page is turned, / no weight of paper in its place / and when it's done no conference yearned - / there is no book ... just empty space." - such a wistful reflection.. a FAV poem for me! Congratulations for your success in Mark's contest. I'm honored to share the podium with you, dear poet. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Mark Toney October 25, 2025 at 9:29 AM Craig, love the contrast of “forgotten tales that once were held and stained with tears and love and lust” with the “apparent heirs like Kindle tablets - pageless screens, dull bootless script where no one shares.” Reminds me of Fahrenheit 451 without the burn. Congratulations on your top 10 win on Mile 23 of my 2025 Poetry Marathon Contest. Keep your running shoes on, because Mile 24 has already started. Only 3 more miles to go before the Qualifiers’ Final Placement contest! Craig Cornish October 25, 2025 at 9:38 AM Mark, once again, thank you for your hard work and consideration--I try to look around on this journey and not straight down the road...there's way too much to see - and miss!

Brian Sambourne March 19, 2021 at 7:42 PM A moving sonnet of impressive, original thought. Congratulations on this top write. Best wishes, Brian Craig Cornish October 25, 2025 at 8:32 AM Brian, thanks so much!

Kim Rodrigues March 18, 2021 at 5:25 AM It is a sad thing to see books consumed by a gadget. Love flipping pages. Congratulations on your win, Craig! Craig Cornish October 25, 2025 at 8:32 AM So very true Kim, thank you!

Gary Radice March 18, 2021 at 2:56 AM I detest Kindles and certainly after reading somewhere that once you "buy" the download it can be re-edited by the publishers etc. (Did I dream that?) Books will make a comeback I'm sure. This is an excellent write Craig and I love the final two lines in particular - because of the poignant message and your wonderful use of words. Cheers - Gary Craig Cornish October 25, 2025 at 8:31 AM Thanks so much Gary!

Kai Michael Neumann March 18, 2021 at 2:16 AM A very fine sonnet. Kind wishes, Kai

Leo Larry Amadore June 3, 2017 at 11:09 PM I enjoyed reading your sonnet and hope that real books will survive the technological changes that are so rapidly replacing them with electronic gadgets, but I fear that the push for paperless transactions and thumb drives and the cloud will make of them only dated antiquities valued for their rarity and fragility. And, of course, sites like poetrysoup.com (and others) help to speed the process (as do we.)