Midnight In the Library

Around midnight, in the library I found myself drawn,
to these shelves haunted still by Poe, Stevenson and King,
as a rare, late October storm brews beyond the pane,
bringing life back to the creatures of Shelley and Stoker.

To these shelves, haunted still by Poe, Stevenson and King,
my fingers grasp a book from under the dust and webs,
bringing life back, to the creatures of Shelley and Stoker,
it's well-worn, leather spine just waiting to chill my own.

My fingers grasp a book, from under the dust and webs,
while autumn winds rustle leaves like crisp, yellowed paper,
it's well-worn leather spine, just waiting, to chill my own,
my head, sinking further back into the velvet-lined chair.

While autumn winds rustle, leaves like crisp, yellowed paper,
candlelight flickers dimly across the tattered old pages,
my head sinking further, back into the velvet-lined chair,
where the ghosts of Irving and Dickens will not let me sleep.

Candlelight flickers dimly, across the tattered, old pages,
I, unable to recline, with the shadows thrown by the fire,
where the ghosts, of Irving and Dickens, will not let me sleep,
residents of the dark welcome, and wait to be revisited.

I, unable to recline with the shadows, thrown by the fire,
as a rare, late October storm brews, beyond the pane,
residents of the dark, welcome and wait, to be revisited,
around midnight, in the library, I found myself... drawn.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015


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Date: 10/22/2019 9:46:00 PM
Great Poem
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 1/8/2020 6:09:00 PM
Thank you :)
Date: 3/20/2018 6:32:00 PM
I love this poem! So haunting and deliciously magical!
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 4/19/2018 6:07:00 PM
I'm so glad you enjoyed it ... This is one of my favorite poems that I've written so far :)
Date: 2/22/2018 7:12:00 AM
A wonderful Pantoum Kelly, Oh, to have a library in my house. Thank you for allowing me to join you on your beautiful poetic journey.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 4/1/2018 7:22:00 PM
I am so glad that you enjoyed my poem, James. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment so kindly. I appreciate that very much!
Date: 5/13/2017 6:10:00 PM
Congrats on your winning work..Way to go..Sara
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/26/2017 6:57:00 PM
Thank you, Sara... I appreciate it :)
Date: 5/11/2017 2:53:00 PM
Hi Kelly, for some reason, I felt as if Linda wrote this. hehehe, Glad, it wasn't then that would be weird. I'm not saying you and Linda, have the same writing styles, but you might have some things in common. Love this, Congratulations :) SKAT
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/26/2017 6:52:00 PM
Hi SKAT, its been awhile... and thank you for this lovely compliment... Linda is such an amazing writer and from what I have read of her work over these last few years, I too can tell that we share much in common :)
Date: 2/29/2016 2:07:00 PM
I remember reading this lovely poem before!! It's just amazing and relatable too!! :D :D
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 3/22/2016 8:40:00 PM
Thank you for your kind comments, Sneha, and for reading this poem once again. It is one of my favorites :)
Date: 9/12/2015 2:09:00 PM
WOW....what an amazing write....you chilled my spine with pure delight....Kelly should be your name nevermore....you have invoked the spirit of lanore....WOW...;)
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/17/2015 9:36:00 PM
Thank you for your wonderful comments, Eric. I am happy that you enjoyed this poem! It has become one of my favorites :)
Date: 8/29/2015 10:12:00 PM
Wonderful and mysterious! I love your images. Nice to see you're still writing. I haven't checked in for awhile.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/3/2015 8:27:00 PM
Thank you so much, Carol. Its nice to see you here again :)
Date: 8/28/2015 11:36:00 AM
Congratulations on your WIN Kelly! ;-)
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/3/2015 8:05:00 PM
Thank you so much, Teddy :)
Date: 8/27/2015 3:13:00 PM
Kelly, Congratulations.... SKAT
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/3/2015 12:33:00 PM
Thank you for the kind congrats, Skat :)
Date: 8/27/2015 11:32:00 AM
I really could picture the scene you set Kelly many congrats on your win:-) hugs jan xx
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/3/2015 12:18:00 PM
Thank you so much, Jan... This poem has become one of my favorites :)
Date: 8/27/2015 11:12:00 AM
i enjoyed the form you wrote your poem in.. Congrats....Seren
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/3/2015 12:09:00 PM
Thank you for your kind comments and congrats, Seren :)
Date: 8/27/2015 10:40:00 AM
Kelly, I love this; this is the first time I have read it and you did a fabulous job . . . the perfect form for the scene you painted. Congratulations.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/2/2015 2:24:00 PM
Thank you so much, Faye. So glad you enjoyed reading this poem! ...It has become one of my favorites :)
Date: 8/27/2015 10:38:00 AM
I love the haunting beauty of this piece Kelly....Congrats on a great win
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/2/2015 2:15:00 PM
Thank you so much, Joseph... This is one of my favorite poems that I've written so far :)
Date: 8/27/2015 12:16:00 AM
Wonderful pic created with powerful words Kelly! Congrats on superb win!
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/1/2015 9:25:00 PM
Thank you so much, Dr. Upma :)
Date: 8/26/2015 10:47:00 PM
I am glad to see this one got higher than mine because it is so deserving of a GREAT win, Kelly. Well done. I loved it before and I love it now. Congrats to you.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 9/1/2015 9:16:00 PM
Thank you so much, Andrea. I really appreciate your kindness :)
Date: 8/21/2015 3:11:00 PM
I do love this one and I've had many of those nights, too. Luv it.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/30/2015 1:43:00 PM
I'm glad you enjoyed this, M.L... Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly :)
Date: 8/14/2015 2:56:00 AM
Love to read these kind of poems,,,, I used to work in the library age 16. I explored all the time :)
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/21/2015 10:24:00 PM
It must have been wonderful to work in a library!... Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly, Debbie. I'm glad you enjoyed my poem :)
Date: 8/9/2015 12:05:00 AM
wow, this is probably the most interesting one I have seen yet. I was waiting for one that would really get INTO the mind of the person and why they are at the library. I have one waiting in the wings, but it does not hold a candle to this one.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/15/2015 10:03:00 PM
Your encouraging and kind comments meant a lot to me, Andrea. Thank you so much :) I look forward to reading your entry!
Date: 8/8/2015 3:05:00 PM
Your write is excellence.......A.M.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/15/2015 10:00:00 PM
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly, A.M. :)
Date: 8/8/2015 2:20:00 PM
- A really great writing, Kelly - (I never go to the library, it smells old ... and so dusty ..... I like to own the books :))) - I wish you a lovely weekend - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/15/2015 9:42:00 PM
I rarely get a chance to go to the library, but I do own a few books. I like having them always there when I want to read... Thank you once again for reading and commenting so kindly, Anne-Lise!
Date: 8/7/2015 4:09:00 PM
Enjoyed reading your ncreative work..These are not so easy to write either..Thanks for you visit to my page..Sara
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/12/2015 9:27:00 PM
I'm happy that you enjoyed this poem, Sara. You're kind comments are always appreciated... This is the second time that I've written in the pantoum form. There is something about it that really appeals to me, even though they are challenging to write.
Date: 8/7/2015 10:59:00 AM
Wow! Excellent, Kelly! In that library you are in 7th heaven, among your close literary companions. You set the a perfect atmosphere to match your mood. #7+ Hugs // paul
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/12/2015 9:09:00 PM
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly, Paul. I do appreciate it very much... Yes, this library would be heaven for me! Fortunately, I'm lucky enough to already own books from each author that I've mentioned here :)
Date: 8/7/2015 10:44:00 AM
An excellence write, it flow with vivid imagery. Good luck in the contest........A.M.
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/12/2015 8:53:00 PM
Thank you for your kind comments and good luck wishes. I do appreciate it, A.M.
Date: 8/7/2015 1:32:00 AM
Ah what a beauty Kelly, u hv captured the core of it,, Gl in contest!
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Kelly Deschler
Date: 8/11/2015 10:26:00 PM
Thank you so much, Dr. Upma! ...This is one of my favorite poems that I've written so far...
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