Small Town Library - October

SMALL TOWN LIBRARY - OCTOBER Sleepy with silent words , soundless print Outside a world of school bells and traffic hum. Cant keep my focus, glasses need renewing. Read same line seven times, I’m losing My place - losing my grip. I am Held in a place where speech ends and Time stops - quiet, silence, hush , no noise. Afternoon long pale crimson sun oozes Into gloomy room, lone sunbeam edging Into the forbidden roomy gloom. Silent stealthy steps like a yellow cat with Dust motes held in its claws. Snoozing over yesterday’s newspapers Old man agreeing, nodding, mutters, Nodding at the 1968 UN yearbook. Studying and skimming thru files for a look Imperceptible earphones in students head. Kids being shushed for fairy tales being read Smell of polished tables and newly-printed paper gloss, Books on shelves by the dusty dozen to choose, Quotes and poems by Zola, Balzac and Moses, Flies buzz lazily by, old librarian checks books out, Buzz, flicker, and plink-plonk from the faulty tube light. Doze, lose consciousness, Soon be November - winter approaching…. Got to save energy = mc squared = MC2….. CO2 + H2O is acid rain = droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven…..and The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night, **** And so to sleep , perchance to………….wake In a place where speech ends, Time stops…………………. **** Langston Hughes (1902-1967), U.S. poet. April Rain Song (l. 4-6)