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The Bookshop Upstairs

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Originally Published: 13th February 2021

Image by gR

This Poem was placed 1st in the "ALL YOURS Feb 14" Poetry Contest sponsored by Brian Strand (Judged 12th March 2021)

As featured in The Poetry Soup Anthology "PS: It's Still Poetry"

Inspired by my several visits to Broadhurst's of Southport bookshop, UK

Sadly, as at 31st August 2024, it has been announced that Broadhurst's of Southport is closing down.

Try leave behind "Book Of The Week" And head upstairs where floorboards creak. Where people tilt their heads to look At every spine on every book. Where murderers and secret lovers Plot and scheme between the covers. Where transport from another age Transports you to another page. Where old detective books reside Each with their price pencilled inside. Where books based on geometry Share space with trigonometry. Where childhood annuals stand in line With memories of a simpler time. Where silent thoughts pervade the air And words speak volumes everywhere.

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Timothy Ray

Date: 4/14/2022 6:26:00 PM

wow Gary did this electrify some neuro-pathways....my haunts in used book stores, trading in and bargaining for used as i walked for years in fantasy novels...awaiting that one to finally show its cover in some trilogy...masterful sir, enjoyed every shadow running across shelves....thank you sir

Gary Radice
Date: 4/15/2022 7:34:00 AM

Thanks Timothy. Yes, there's nothing I too like better than rummaging through the shelves of a second hand book store: The world (and beyond) at your fingertips. :) Cheers - Gary

Brian Strand

Date: 9/19/2021 1:11:00 AM

I rem member a bookshop just like this Gary,alas no more

Gary Radice
Date: 9/19/2021 2:08:00 AM

This poem is based on CK Broadhursts bookshop in Southport that luckily is still going very strong. ckbroadhurst.co.uk Thanks for the visit. Cheers - Gary

Brian Sambourne

Date: 4/25/2021 3:00:00 PM

A very fine, well rhymed, engaging read. Loved it, Gary. Bookstores are lost treasures. Best wishes, Brian

Gary Radice
Date: 4/25/2021 11:57:00 PM

Brian, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my poem. It's really appreciated. I love bookstores and this poem is based on one near to where I live. Cheers - Gary

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 3/26/2021 7:22:00 AM

I love every word, every line, and every rhyme Gary - perfect! A fav for me. :) Linda

Gary Radice
Date: 3/26/2021 9:25:00 AM

..and I love all your words too Linda! :) Thanks so much for the fav. Cheers - Gary.

Kimberly Sikorski

Date: 3/26/2021 7:13:00 AM

I am in THAT store ! Kim

Gary Radice
Date: 3/26/2021 9:24:00 AM

Thanks Kim. It's where we buy our books from..and it has so much more atmosphere than Amazon! :) Cheers Gary.

Greg Gaul

Date: 3/18/2021 6:34:00 AM

Crafted skillfully in measured rhymes, lots and lots of opines in layers that land so softly wrapped up nicely in that last line. Congrats on your win.

Gary Radice
Date: 3/18/2021 9:14:00 AM

Thank you Greg. I appreciate your kind comments. Cheers - Gary

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 3/18/2021 6:08:00 AM

Congrats! I love this... God bless you with many more. Love, Gina

Gary Radice
Date: 3/18/2021 6:15:00 AM

Thank you Regina. Cheers - Gary

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 3/18/2021 5:23:00 AM

Congratulations, Gary, on your win!

Gary Radice
Date: 3/18/2021 5:29:00 AM

Thank you Kim! :)

David Kavanagh

Date: 3/18/2021 5:16:00 AM

Heya Gary, congratulations on your high placement, well deserved, I have often stood in bookshops, and imagined this poem, so many of us must think the same about books being alive, even when the covers are closed, cheers David

Gary Radice
Date: 3/18/2021 5:31:00 AM

Thanks David. Yes, I deliberately gave the books the personalities of their subjects. I love bookshops that don't just concentrate on selling brand new books. Bookshops with personalities all of their own. Cheers - Gary

Terry Flood

Date: 3/18/2021 4:25:00 AM

Don’t know if any comments have disappeared, but I’m sure I commented that I was sure this would do well in contest. Well, whether I did or didn’t, I’m not surprised to be proved right. A good write and a good read. Congrats. Terry

Gary Radice
Date: 3/18/2021 4:37:00 AM

Whether they did or didn't Terry I'm very grateful for your comments. Its partly based on a bookshop in Southport and I've had a lovely response from them about it too. Cheers - Gary

Kai Michael Neumann

Date: 3/18/2021 2:14:00 AM

Very nice. Words indeed speak volumes. Kind wishes, Kai

Gary Radice
Date: 3/18/2021 2:29:00 AM

Thanks Kai. I really enjoyed your contest and am about to read the poems that were placed now. Cheers - Gary

Peter Rees

Date: 3/16/2021 12:59:00 PM

Feel the ambience of an old fashioned bookshop , perfectly described. Perhaps soon to be a thing of the past, sadly. “Words speak volumes everywhere “ - such a clever use of words. I love this nostalgic thoughtful piece.

Gary Radice
Date: 3/16/2021 1:05:00 PM

Thank you Peter for your lovely comments :) Southport has several of these wonderful shops and like you I truly hope they can survive. Cheers - Gary

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 3/9/2021 1:26:00 PM

Where people tilt their heads to look At every spine on every book Why Gary i hope this fills the very pages of one of those books Bravo

Gary Radice
Date: 3/9/2021 11:51:00 PM

Christopher, that's lovely of you to say so - I really appreciate it. I'm behind on reading poems at the moment but will make a concerted effort over the next week. Cheers - Gary

John Tunnah

Date: 2/23/2021 11:43:00 PM

Takes me back to the "Turl Cash Bookshop" of 1960's Oxford.

Gary Radice
Date: 2/24/2021 1:14:00 AM

Thanks for your comments John. I had to look up the Turl Cash Bookshop; it sounded wonderful. Cheers - Gary

Sand Blown

Date: 2/23/2021 11:40:00 AM

...as long as there A R E bookstores the world is A L I V E .....(reminds me of the oldt frankenstein line...."it's....alive!!"...) ....stan sand

Gary Radice
Date: 2/23/2021 11:52:00 AM

I'm certainly with you on that Stan! :) Cheers - Gary

Harry Horsman

Date: 2/16/2021 9:31:00 PM

Wonderful tour around the bookshop upstairs, excellent rhyme and rhythm the flow superb, the poetry educational. Stay Safe, Gary.

Gary Radice
Date: 2/17/2021 12:23:00 AM

Thank you Harry and great to read your lovely comments. You stay safe too. Cheers - Gary

Constance La France

Date: 2/15/2021 9:33:00 AM

Gary, congratulations on your win in Brian's contest with this wonderful write _Constance

Gary Radice
Date: 2/15/2021 10:47:00 AM

Thank you Constance. Your post earlier on brought me luck :) Cheers - Gary

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 2/13/2021 2:34:00 PM

I love those old bookshops, especially the woodsy smell of vintage books - so charming, must Fave it!

Gary Radice
Date: 2/13/2021 3:09:00 PM

Thank you for the fave Michelle! Despite all the modern technology, nothing can or will replace the book. Thanks for reading. Cheers - Gary

Constance La France

Date: 2/13/2021 8:58:00 AM

Gary, your poem is wonderful, it made me wish for the used book stores to re-open here so I could wander through all the assorted old dusty books, an excellent poem for Brian's contest, hope to see it on the winning list _Constance

Gary Radice
Date: 2/13/2021 9:07:00 AM

Thank you so much Constance. Thanks for reading :) The poem is based on a bookshop we frequent often in Southport near to where we live in the UK. As for the contests at PS: I just really enjoy the ride whether placed or not and enjoy reading some of the great poems the competitions throw up. Cheers - Gary