A Dusty Old Tome--A Poem by Yours Truly

[Khyrindor he/him]

As we are all book lovers here, I thought many of you would enjoy a poem I wrote today that I'm calling "A Dusty Old Tome". It's supposed to  be a prose poem, so don't tell me about the lack of stanzas.

Here goes:

Watch as the traveller pushes through the heavy oak doors into the portal of brick walls and hardwood floors. A labyrinth of leather-bound books line the walls, lamenting their isolation, waiting and wishing the traveller be tricked into selecting their stories. But despite that, waiting patiently with a hush one could feel more than hear. The reader can sense some sort of reverence in the respectful silence permeating the library. In counterpoint, familiar already-read tales shout in recognition to the traveller, who marvels that no one can hear them but he.

Beams of sunlight cascade through the skylight, pointing out hovering motes of dust that tickle the traveller’s nose. The dust in the air swirls like magical pixie powder as the traveller passes slowly through the sunbeams. Slowly, so he can read the spines of the dusty tomes sitting on their tightly packed shelves. Titles glitter in gold and silver on the spines of black or brown books, mere glimpses into the secrets they hold.

The traveller selects a candidate, on a shelf almost too high for his reach. The worn book has known many a touch; its pages browned by age, its binding crackling at its opening. But the traveller is careful, ever so careful with the precious, fragile tome. The indescribable scent of ancient parchment wafts to the traveller’s nose: Musty, dusty, and lackluster, but somehow hinting and wonder. And the thin papers smooth to the brush of his fingertips, possessing grit ever so fine. Black-inked words stand stark on the off-white pages, but its story is more than just words.

The traveller is already smitten; the reader already in love. The jealously taciturn books unselected would have to wait until his next visit, the traveller remarks. He’d selected his journey for today, but soon he’d return for another.

 

 

Let me know what you think! And thanks for reading!