Discard
Someone discarded
this library book
Somewhere else.
It wasn’t the latest thing.
It was old and needed replacing
with
Something better.
Someone stamped it
DISCARD
and then
discarded it.
Through
Some alchemy
of pity and generosity
It ended up here,
Somewhere else.
If only
Someone
hadn’t stamped the word
DISCARD
here on this page.
That word
distracts my eye
from the
delicate
painting of
red and yellow and white tulips
with stripy green leaves.
Someone picked those flowers
Somewhere else.
Someone put them on the table,
dewy from the garden.
Someone painted them,
adding each line with a careful hand.
In my mind I redefine
DISCARD
and say instead
transplant
transplant
to
Somewhere tulips do not grow
where we do not have the latest thing
and
where I take a moment to appreciate
the slender stems
and bright petals
of flowers which were
discarded
Somewhere else
long ago
but which art has preserved
for me to see
Somewhere tulips do not grow
where we do not have the latest thing
and
where I take a moment to appreciate
the slender stems
and bright petals
of flowers which were
discarded
Somewhere else
long ago
but which art has preserved
for me to see
here
this morning.
Ruth, from thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
You can find today's roundup at Carol's Corner, here.
6 comments:
Oh how I love the word transplant so much more than discard. As a writer, you always want to think that someone will want to read and enjoy the book you've written.
I have a friend in a small town who posts lovely books she mourns when she finds them in the 'discard' box at her library. Instead of a sale, they are free for the taking. I will share this with her, love that you have caressed the book with your words.
Like Kimberly, I love the word "transplant." And I love the idea of someone seeing with new eyes and cherishing and loving something that is no longer appreciated by another. Thank you for this beautiful poem.
This is proof positive that there is poetry in every moment, if we just take time to see it and write it.
Your poem is lovely...and thought provoking. How we name things is everything, isn't it?
I have already have several of my books set to discard at local libraries, but I can at least take some comfort in the fact that they are being discarded because they have been too enthusiastically loved by toddlers with big hearts and sticky fingers. But to be discarded because you are no longer cool or fashionable, now that is a tragedy for any book.
Ugh to big stamps on beautiful books! Glad you could reclaim it and rejoice in it.
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