Gary Radice Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

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Originally Published: 13th February 2021

Image: A brilliant painting by Andrew Kerr

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"

The poem was written in 2021 and based on Broadhurst's Bookshop 5-7 Market Street, Southport UK.

 Broadhursts sadly closed its doors permanently in August 2024 after 104 years in business.

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The Bookshop Upstairs

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 April 14, 2022 at 6:26 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 April 15, 2022 at 7:34 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 September 19, 2021 at 1:11 AM I rem member a bookshop just like this Gary,alas no more Gary Radice September 19, 2021 at 2:08 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 April 25, 2021 at 3:00 PM A very fine, well rhymed, engaging read. Loved it, Gary. Bookstores are lost treasures. Best wishes, Brian Gary Radice April 25, 2021 at 11:57 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 March 26, 2021 at 7:22 AM I love every word, every line, and every rhyme Gary - perfect! A fav for me. :) Linda Gary Radice March 26, 2021 at 9:25 AM ..and I love all your words too Linda! :) Thanks so much for the fav. Cheers - Gary.

Kimberly Sikorski March 26, 2021 at 7:13 AM I am in THAT store ! Kim Gary Radice March 26, 2021 at 9:24 AM Thanks Kim. It's where we buy our books from..and it has so much more atmosphere than Amazon! :) Cheers Gary.

Greg Gaul March 18, 2021 at 6:34 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 March 18, 2021 at 9:14 AM Thank you Greg. I appreciate your kind comments. Cheers - Gary

Regina Mcintosh March 18, 2021 at 6:08 AM Congrats! I love this... God bless you with many more. Love, Gina Gary Radice March 18, 2021 at 6:15 AM Thank you Regina. Cheers - Gary

Kim Rodrigues March 18, 2021 at 5:23 AM Congratulations, Gary, on your win! Gary Radice March 18, 2021 at 5:29 AM Thank you Kim! :)

David Kavanagh March 18, 2021 at 5:16 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 March 18, 2021 at 5:31 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 March 18, 2021 at 4:25 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 March 18, 2021 at 4:37 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 March 18, 2021 at 2:14 AM Very nice. Words indeed speak volumes. Kind wishes, Kai Gary Radice March 18, 2021 at 2:29 AM Thanks Kai. I really enjoyed your contest and am about to read the poems that were placed now. Cheers - Gary

Peter Rees March 16, 2021 at 12:59 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 March 16, 2021 at 1:05 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 March 9, 2021 at 1:26 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 March 9, 2021 at 11:51 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 February 23, 2021 at 11:43 PM Takes me back to the "Turl Cash Bookshop" of 1960's Oxford. Gary Radice February 24, 2021 at 1:14 AM Thanks for your comments John. I had to look up the Turl Cash Bookshop; it sounded wonderful. Cheers - Gary

Sand Blown February 23, 2021 at 11:40 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 February 23, 2021 at 11:52 AM I'm certainly with you on that Stan! :) Cheers - Gary

Harry Horsman February 16, 2021 at 9:31 PM Wonderful tour around the bookshop upstairs, excellent rhyme and rhythm the flow superb, the poetry educational. Stay Safe, Gary. Gary Radice February 17, 2021 at 12:23 AM Thank you Harry and great to read your lovely comments. You stay safe too. Cheers - Gary

Constance La France February 15, 2021 at 9:33 AM Gary, congratulations on your win in Brian's contest with this wonderful write _Constance Gary Radice February 15, 2021 at 10:47 AM Thank you Constance. Your post earlier on brought me luck :) Cheers - Gary

Michelle Faulkner February 13, 2021 at 2:34 PM I love those old bookshops, especially the woodsy smell of vintage books - so charming, must Fave it! Gary Radice February 13, 2021 at 3:09 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 February 13, 2021 at 8:58 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 February 13, 2021 at 9:07 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