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

Poem

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Mcguire Avatar
October 22, 2019 at 9:46 PM
Great Poem
Deschler Avatar
January 8, 2020 at 6:09 PM
Thank you :)
Mays Avatar
March 20, 2018 at 6:32 PM
I love this poem! So haunting and deliciously magical!
Deschler Avatar
April 19, 2018 at 6:07 PM
I'm so glad you enjoyed it ... This is one of my favorite poems that I've written so far :)
Inman Avatar
February 22, 2018 at 7:12 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.
Deschler Avatar
April 1, 2018 at 7:22 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!
Kendrick Avatar
May 13, 2017 at 6:10 PM
Congrats on your winning work..Way to go..Sara
Deschler Avatar
September 26, 2017 at 6:57 PM
Thank you, Sara... I appreciate it :)
A  Avatar
May 11, 2017 at 2:53 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
Deschler Avatar
September 26, 2017 at 6:52 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 :)
Rv Avatar
February 29, 2016 at 2:07 PM
I remember reading this lovely poem before!! It's just amazing and relatable too!! :D :D
Deschler Avatar
March 22, 2016 at 8:40 PM
Thank you for your kind comments, Sneha, and for reading this poem once again. It is one of my favorites :)
Boddie Avatar
September 12, 2015 at 2:09 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...;)
Deschler Avatar
September 17, 2015 at 9:36 PM
Thank you for your wonderful comments, Eric. I am happy that you enjoyed this poem! It has become one of my favorites :)
Mays Avatar
August 29, 2015 at 10:12 PM
Wonderful and mysterious! I love your images. Nice to see you're still writing. I haven't checked in for awhile.
Deschler Avatar
September 3, 2015 at 8:27 PM
Thank you so much, Carol. Its nice to see you here again :)
Kimathi Avatar
August 28, 2015 at 11:36 AM
Congratulations on your WIN Kelly! ;-)
Deschler Avatar
September 3, 2015 at 8:05 PM
Thank you so much, Teddy :)
A  Avatar
August 27, 2015 at 3:13 PM
Kelly, Congratulations.... SKAT
Deschler Avatar
September 3, 2015 at 12:33 PM
Thank you for the kind congrats, Skat :)
Allison Avatar
August 27, 2015 at 11:32 AM
I really could picture the scene you set Kelly many congrats on your win:-) hugs jan xx
Deschler Avatar
September 3, 2015 at 12:18 PM
Thank you so much, Jan... This poem has become one of my favorites :)
Roberts Avatar
August 27, 2015 at 11:12 AM
i enjoyed the form you wrote your poem in.. Congrats....Seren
Deschler Avatar
September 3, 2015 at 12:09 PM
Thank you for your kind comments and congrats, Seren :)
Gibson Avatar
August 27, 2015 at 10:40 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.
Deschler Avatar
September 2, 2015 at 2:24 PM
Thank you so much, Faye. So glad you enjoyed reading this poem! ...It has become one of my favorites :)
May Avatar
August 27, 2015 at 10:38 AM
I love the haunting beauty of this piece Kelly....Congrats on a great win
Deschler Avatar
September 2, 2015 at 2:15 PM
Thank you so much, Joseph... This is one of my favorite poems that I've written so far :)
A. Sharma Avatar
August 27, 2015 at 12:16 AM
Wonderful pic created with powerful words Kelly! Congrats on superb win!
Deschler Avatar
September 1, 2015 at 9:25 PM
Thank you so much, Dr. Upma :)
Dietrich Avatar
August 26, 2015 at 10:47 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.
Deschler Avatar
September 1, 2015 at 9:16 PM
Thank you so much, Andrea. I really appreciate your kindness :)
Kiser Avatar
August 21, 2015 at 3:11 PM
I do love this one and I've had many of those nights, too. Luv it.
Deschler Avatar
August 30, 2015 at 1:43 PM
I'm glad you enjoyed this, M.L... Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly :)
Duncan Avatar
August 14, 2015 at 2:56 AM
Love to read these kind of poems,,,, I used to work in the library age 16. I explored all the time :)
Deschler Avatar
August 21, 2015 at 10:24 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 :)
Dietrich Avatar
August 9, 2015 at 12:05 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.
Deschler Avatar
August 15, 2015 at 10:03 PM
Your encouraging and kind comments meant a lot to me, Andrea. Thank you so much :) I look forward to reading your entry!
Muideen Avatar
August 8, 2015 at 3:05 PM
Your write is excellence.......A.M.
Deschler Avatar
August 15, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Thank you for reading and commenting so kindly, A.M. :)
Andresen Avatar
August 8, 2015 at 2:20 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 :)
Deschler Avatar
August 15, 2015 at 9:42 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!
Kendrick Avatar
August 7, 2015 at 4:09 PM
Enjoyed reading your ncreative work..These are not so easy to write either..Thanks for you visit to my page..Sara
Deschler Avatar
August 12, 2015 at 9:27 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.
Callus Avatar
August 7, 2015 at 10:59 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
Deschler Avatar
August 12, 2015 at 9:09 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 :)
Muideen Avatar
August 7, 2015 at 10:44 AM
An excellence write, it flow with vivid imagery. Good luck in the contest........A.M.
Deschler Avatar
August 12, 2015 at 8:53 PM
Thank you for your kind comments and good luck wishes. I do appreciate it, A.M.
A. Sharma Avatar
August 7, 2015 at 1:32 AM
Ah what a beauty Kelly, u hv captured the core of it,, Gl in contest!
Deschler Avatar
August 11, 2015 at 10:26 PM
Thank you so much, Dr. Upma! ...This is one of my favorite poems that I've written so far...
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