My Library

My neck crooked backward,
I stand between the stacks
feeling the weight of centuries, 
the distilled wisdom of minds
who graced the earth with golden words,
words that pace the pages -
vellum, parchment, fine and common papers;
words, cordoned in lines, confined,
yet powerful tools to set one free, 
a roamer far from home,
across universes,
beyond time's reach.

The light filters through high windows
downward to where I peer with squinted eyes
teasing out a jewel - 
a title, an author, an adventure, a friend.

The air is charged,
the static of adventure,
heartfelt journeys of a hundred thousand writers,
their souls etched upon the pages
for ones such as I to stumble upon decades,
centuries later,
dream maps
thought castles,
imaginative quests.

Quietness reigns.
The elements of books -
leather, cloth, paper and ink -
infuse a rich elixir,
a mind expanding potion,
companion to best wine and oldest friendships
seasoned,
mellowed,
treasured.

© Faye Lanham Gibson, August 11, 2015

Copyright © | Year Posted 2015



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Date: 9/2/2015 2:31:00 PM
You're poem really captures that feeling of being in a library and the excitement of exploring the shelves... Wonderful writing, Faye! Congratulations on a well deserved win!
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Date: 8/28/2015 11:34:00 AM
Congratulations on your No.1 placement Faye! ;-)
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Date: 8/27/2015 6:11:00 PM
"Teasing out a jewel"...you made this one a gem...Congrats on a great win Faye
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Date: 8/27/2015 3:12:00 PM
Faye, Congratulations.... SKAT
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Date: 8/27/2015 11:29:00 AM
Such a beautiful poem Faye many congrats on your top spot:-) hugs jan xx
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Date: 8/27/2015 11:10:00 AM
what a lovely poem Faye, loved reading it ....Seren
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Date: 8/27/2015 10:00:00 AM
So wonderful Faye........I can tell you love the ambiance of a world of books, and know it well !! Congrats to you!
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Date: 8/27/2015 12:14:00 AM
Perfect scent of library so well captured Faye! Congrats on first place win!
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Date: 8/26/2015 10:49:00 PM
You captured the essence of a library SO superbly, Faye. It is good to see a rhyming poet like Isaiah give a top win to this free verse. I love this. Congratulations.
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Date: 8/11/2015 11:06:00 PM
This is a fantastic write, Faye! Wonderfully descriptive and flows so smoothly. I really like this. Love, Kim
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