They took me by my little hand and led me down the stairs
the bubble pigs in fifties wigs and friendly farmer bears,
they left me in a basement bright where books abundant sat
alone it seemed my childform dreamed past tomes by kings begat,
when opened under eager eyes their treasure gold did spill
and little cats with feathered hats my bursting heart did fill;
choosing five was agony; my bookworm had been woken
when I left at Mum's behest twas with a spirit broken.
Returning to Aladdin's cave; the long awaited day
down stairs once more and through the door to houses made of hay
and broody ducks in petticoats being watched by Mr. Fox
and little mice who spice up life by scuttling up clocks.
I grew with books; they grew with me, and pictures disappeared
replaced with words like flocks of birds as adolescence neared
out from the much thumbed pages armoured dragons crawled in hoards
the cutesy mice from former life now brandished deadly swords.
Time was ever flowing as my age became a double
two ones bade the friends I'd made farewell; and hello trouble
for as a damp rag in the desert magic quenched my thirst
Tantalus knew the pain that grew; unfulfillment was my curse.
So I climbed the stairs once more, but stopped not at the egress
I ascended stairs commended by acolytes excess
I walked through doors of towering dark; shelves above me loomed
in musty dark I did embark and by Chaucer was consumed.
Author notes
Yes, Chaucer was the book I first read in the adults library. In Greek mythology Tantalus was cursed by the Gods to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches raised his intended meal from his grasp. Whenever he bent down to get a drink, the water receded before he could get any. The egress is the exit, or way out.
A contest entry
- A Ticket to Read by Judith Chandler.
550 points, ended February 25, 2009, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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I like it. you did a great job. keep up the great work
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bravo
this was great on some many levels: the sentiment and memories, the illiteration, the illustations. Great job
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Nice write, I enjoyed this poem. I recently wrote a poem called "The Eternal Library" so when you mentioned "library" in your shameless I figured I should check it out.
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I liked your description of the book characters you met on your first visit and I was especially intrigued by your choice of book.
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Yes, I seem to remember I had been watching a program on the BBC which was a dramatisation of the Canturbury Tales, they were riviting and had inspired me to read some of the originals. Now that I reflect it does seem a little odd.
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Very Good!
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Wow, really great piece! I loved this poem. It brought back some good memories I thought were long gone. Thanks alot. Keep up the wonderful work.
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