We’re seldom first to notice—
rare to be first at anything
Still will be those who’ve not noted
who ought to know a story
Full circles may mingle
perhaps never meet
Bouncy-wall bubbles
may not relate
Thus, value to accounts
tales of survival
Traumas of people
emergent from struggle
High vaults & bookstacks proffer spines, aligned
inside fragrant clouds, wooden smells sublime
where paper decay means proof of perspective
Where organic appeal assures fulfillment
through community news, and such events
which require a space of open access
Public attraction generous to self, place of
reflection, with old study smell; people
peruse, still . . . scan & borrow print volumes
Even now they arrive, hunker in nooks
kick feet up, crack books—enshrouded in thick
woody-scent aromas, creamed coffee & art
Devices hardly compare, but do serve—
Reserve from your library online!
Originally written in mind of the indispensable library on September 28, the International Day for Universal Access to Information
Featured photo by Janko Ferlic on Pexels.com
Blackout poetry is an intriguing form of expression which feels a lot like word search puzzles but is a more complex and rewarding exercise, well fit for a quiet hour at home.
I haven’t done a blackout poem before today, but have been fascinated by the visual poetic creations I’ve seen and even found a blog here via WordPress Reader that regularly publishes blackout poetry. They get such interesting results and continue to inspire the interest.
Finally, this morning I couldn’t wait any longer. I picked a paperback fiction book from one of our shelves here at home and sat down with a sharpie for my first blackout poetry activity.
Afterward, I am hooked. I can’t believe I waited so long to go from interest to experiment.
It seems interesting to keep going in the same book used for this post, but impossible yet to tell. I suppose themes need not match, so seems feasible.
*Mobile users: Thank you for patience with scrolling the image: to decrease its size would have made text nearly impossible to read. The best visual option here would be to download image to device. Maybe I’ll figure out a better way for the next one.
If you’d like a regular dose of this kind of work, I’d suggest Molly Shea’s Hen House as the best starting point. It’s always nice to see what they’ve done.
Thanks for taking a look, and I hope you give it a try.
Life's Poetic Essence 