Thursday, April 12, 2012

Poetry Pairing: The Library as Home

It's National Library Week, so what better way to celebrate libraries and National Poetry Month than with another poetry pairing? And like last week, there's an added bonus.

The New York Public Library put together a powerful video starring a few of it's loyal patrons answering the question: "Where Do You Call Home?"




This video made me think of Charles Simic's poem "In the Library." A few lines from it:

Now the sun is shining
Through the tall windows.
The library is a quiet place.
Angels and gods huddled
In dark unopened books.

And for the added bonus, you can read Simic's moving essay for The New York Review of Books: "A Country Without Libraries."

How do you feel about your local library? 

12 comments:

  1. I love the poem and video. It captures that sense of place when you've found the perfect book, a nice place to sit and time to read. I like all the 'nooks and crannies' of our library.

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    1. Thank you. Making the time to read is important, and the library always provides a nice, quiet place.

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  2. I am lucky to live within walking distance of the library that has the highest circulation rate in the state of Minnesota!

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    1. That's wonderful, Kathleen! I would love to be able to do that. Maybe one day!

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  3. So wonderful! I love libraries and also librarians (aren't they always the coolest and sweetest people??).

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  4. Oh it's true. There's a familiarity to any library that gives it that same "familiar" feeling of home. I do enjoy spending time in my library, and am always drawn in and stay there longer than I thought I would.

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  5. I love this. The library here is a teen hangout -- it has a little deli downstairs, and every now and then it floods. But it remains my favorite spot in Poland, Ohio.

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    1. Thanks, Nin. Sounds like a very special little library there. I'd love to visit a library like that!

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  6. Such a great post, Andee. In the spirit of my teenage students: "I looooooooove libraries." When it comes to indoor spaces, book houses are my favorite places to be.

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    1. Love that spirit, Emily! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.

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