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| Mirror with Susan, 2009 |
Ode to Books
Even as I plot
to deplete you
I love you
You who are
weight
and substance
of every stage
in my journey
You are stages
awakened
in my hands
revealing
to my senses
the sweetest
efforts of multiple
workers: each
part of you
lovingly made
from the inventions
of centuries of seekers
to hallow
the few names
gracing your
front covers
Covers
oft covered
with thin sheets
of artistic
illustration
crisp and inviting
over spines
straight as arrows
that are useful
even and especially
when broken
Broken open at hinges
you are each a portal
to an author’s universe
that builds on, expands
and surrounds your
elders, refusing
to abandon them
preferring tribal respect
over execution—
every tribe has errors
and learning curves
The curve of your
pages when riffled!
Can anything be sexier?
Smooth smooth
the touch of each
leaf turning
under my fingers
some crisp and ashen
from age or cheapness
but all covered
with symbols
that tap away at
brain cells and hearts
of we who dare
your borders
I have dared more,
dear ones: your
borders and margins
are my memory
time-line
of responses:
you can read me there
when I was parrot
to the author,
when I began questioning,
when I entered into dialogue
with the history of ideas.
You, dear books
are my history
and if I remove
some chapters
it is only to make
room for more
(maybe one with my
name on the cover)
and to accept
new technologies
of production,
more nameless inventors
building beautiful
new scaffolding for
your job, now
that the materials
that built you
are disappearing
from our earth.
Posted for Tony's Form For All ~ Modern Odes with a taste of Chile at dVerse Poets Pub.
Indeed. Your ode is shamelessly devoted to its theme. Your tender look at books from a half dozen vantages confirms for me the thrall is mutual. - Brendan
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brandon, A lovely comment.
DeleteI enjoyed the ode to books as they are the portals of so many beginnings ~ In whatever form they may be now and in the future, books will always be part of our history ~ Happy Friday Susan ~
ReplyDeleteThank you, Grace. I truly hope so. Have a good weekend.
DeleteI love books too - as does my wife; we have way tooooo many (if that's possible). Did you know, Neruda wrore at least 2 Odes to Books?
ReplyDeleteWhat I like about your poem is the way you've tied the history of printing and publishing - and it's future - with your own, showing the way that you have interacted with the authors contained in your library and how those interactions have changed over the years.
No, I didn't know about Neruda's odes to books--I will look for them. Thank you for noticing all the layers, Tony. I love odes, especially Neruda's ode to his socks.
DeleteWonderful, wonderful.....for all book lovers....as they "build and expand our universe"...we even have been known to memorize them ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's cool. I would love to know which ones!
Deleteeach a portal
ReplyDeleteto an author’s universe....so very true...whole worlds to discover in each new book...i'm loving book...the touch...the scent...the adventure... very nice ode susan
Thank you, Claudia.
DeleteSusan, love what you write. Though I embrace technologies I still enjoy the books and how they feel.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bjorn.
DeleteOh Susan, your ode to book(s) I traipsed slowly, to feel every wonderful expression, emoton. Not as you or I might feel, but as a book must feel. My favorite stanza begins:
ReplyDelete"I have dared more,
dear ones:..." surely we are not the only readers who have ever written (scribbled?) in the margins, between printed lines, etc.
In one of my books--a "BIG book", people are always asking, "Oh! May i see what you wrote here, there?", etc., etc
PEACE and LIGHTSusan.
I may never be famous enough for people to gather my marginalia--or even to wonder about it--though high school students loved using my copy of the class text.
DeleteHow I adore this poem. Books have companioned me since I was five. Love all the descriptions of their spines, the feel of them in our hands, how they were "weight and substance of every stage" of our journey. and YES!!!!!!!!! a book with your name on it!!! In 2014. Let's make a pact!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ms. Sherry. I sent you an email.
Deletei absolutely love books so you are speaking my language...fun thing, i rarely break the spine on mine...i handle them soft, as a lover you know...smiles...occassionally doesnt work but...i love their smell as well...yes i love me some books....smiles....
ReplyDeleteBreaking a book, like Cracking a book can just mean opening it. But never to break a spine! You must have clean as a whistle books. Respect.
Deletean excellent subject and a tender, saucy write ~
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful subject for an ode, Susan; and I do so hope that when you make room for MORE books there WILL (someday soon) be one with your name on the cover!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. Soon. How many pages should it be?
DeleteI love books too Susan, have loved them since I was able to read and have a number of favorites I cherish. So obviously I could totally relate to your lovely poem!
ReplyDeleteLove that, Gabrielle.
DeleteSome are old friends that I visit again and again. For several months now I have been rereading old favorites. Love this ode.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Geo!
DeleteAh yes, nothing like the love of books! (I have managed to accept the 'new scaffolding'; smile.)
ReplyDeleteMe, too. Someone just gave me her early-make Kindle when she got her new one. Pretty tricky! I really like having it with me when traveling.
DeleteThank you, sweet Loredana.
ReplyDeleteYour love of books so palpable and physical here--it's really as much physical as metaphysical and very lovely. And yes, I hope one will have your own name on it! Absolutely. K. (Manicddaily at wordpress.)
ReplyDelete