I have languished for too long a time
twixt mighty tomes and books of rhyme,
mixed with The Brothers
Karamazov
met Madame
Bovary, visited Vanity Fair,
saw What Katy
Did and did so love Jane Eyre
(oh I dreamt of that woman,
Imagined her in robes of virgin white,
face lullabied in loose brown hair) –
she once so well read so now edgeworn
with crumpled spine and pages torn.
But I am made of stronger stuff and stand erect,
slip cased hard backed, so very fine.
Unread I have stood the test of time,
yet yearn for men to turn my page,
read the secrets hid between my lines,
savour boards unhinged from once sturdy spine
as those hungry for my words
find wonder 'neath my pristine cover
as they
hungrily turn leaf on leaf, beguiled.
those wonderful
wonderful bibliophiles.
Anna :o]
Negative Capability
"My
name is Anna Elizabeth Graham and I’m your host today for Meeting the Bar:
Critique and Craft. I am asking you to experience what Coleridge called, ‘a
sort of transfusion and transmission of my consciousness to identify myself
with the object’. Along these lines you may write a persona poem, an ode to an
object, about the concept of negative capability or demonstrate it in other
ways. Use another’s language, world view, turn of phrase, or style. And in the
words of Mary Oliver, ‘I would rather see an ambitious though rough poem than a
careful and tame poem’ so be brave and take some risks today."
Nothing
came to mind when first reading the prompt, but when out in the great outdoors
today (with no pen or notebook) I began to imagine myself as an unread book and
above is a as much as remembered draft of my thoughts.
Not
certain it is what Anna had in mind – but I hope so!
Image:
courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Author:
Maciej Szczepaniak
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23 comments:
there is something to be said of an unread book that is kept still you know...there is a reason there...and a day as well that it will be read...perhaps they live on in that hope...and stay ever vigilant ready for the one to com along and grace their pages once more...
i rather love books, so i enjoyed greatly...
Unread books watch youy as you go by, play on your mind...dare you to read them.
Often you may like your own characters so you leave the reading for a day when you are strong and hits a high not in life.
..they call out, but are very, very patient ;) I like this poem much..
I love the play of Vanity Fair with Jane Eyre-- unexpected yet perfect. ~Jason
What a cool concept to imagine oneself as an object. Wonder which one I'd choose!
But I am made of stronger stuff and stand erect,slip cased hard backed, so very fine.Unread I have stood the test of time,yet yearn for men to turn my page,read the secrets hid between my lines
One often times are admired but the right people one craves for. Essentially communication slacks at critical times. Nicely!
Hank
Good book choices. A home is not a home without books or cats. They are family!
Your comparison with a book is spot on .... loved it !!!
Smashing idea and so well executed. Wish I'd thought of it :-)
Hi Anna, My first time here, I think and enjoyed my look around. as a former Librarian, in a previous life, your work certainly got me back there no problem... The lovely smell of books (though not directly mentioned in your piece...) still came through - which is interesting isnt it!
Regards Scott www.scotthastie.com
i think you did wonderful anna...love how the book hungers to be read just like the reader hungers to read it... so many treasures to find in these pages...i have the one or other book on my shelf that i had no time to read so far or didn't take the time and oh they look at me with different eyes now...smiles
Oh those unread books and how they can speak to you... but unfortunately they are sometimes a little to boring to read... harsh reality of the world.
I like the perspective of the unread books ~ Perhaps one day, an eager hand will turn leaf on leaf, beguiled ~
Great take on the prompt! To be an unread book must be the worst possible fate for one. This was great to read aloud too.
I would take you off the shelf any day!
I like this alot as I do believe all books have voices and can be heard if one but listens.
"face lullabied in loose brown hair."
Oh, that is gorgeous!
That's an unusual way a book speaks to its readers ;-) Beautiful!
now thats power of imagination...
Anna, this is a wonderful poem, and very creative to think of an unread book--now which would that be? :-) Thank you very much for the visit and kinds words!
how wonderfully unique - yes they really do call out to us but they are extraordinarily patient
An interesting idea -what object would I be? I am always hopeless at imagining that sort of thing. I don't think I could even have begun to know, let alone write a poem about it - let alone such a good poem!
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