A library is not just pretty books lined up in neat rows
Not just pretty books filled with pretty thoughts
Not just pretty thoughts written to hide the ugliness
Hiding the ugliness does not make it go away.
A library is books lined up in neat rows
Rows of books filled with problems, real and imagined
The real and imagined conflicts mirroring our own
Our own fears and faults playing out in the safety of the pages.
A library's books are not always meant to make you feel comfortable.
The discomfort is where our discussion begins.
I love this poem and how it describes the books that SHOULD be in a library and WHY they are there. Thanks for sharing! Discomfort isn't always a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteThe formatting right instead of left had me interested and engaged before even reading a word. I wondered about library books and how sizes are stacked and fronted on shelves, and then read the words that added depth to the idea. I love the power of the final line!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful poem, Chris. The last line is such a great punch line. I wonder how many times, someone has stopped to think about what you said in the last two lines. Libraries are the hub of schools.
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