For the (fictional) series, "Edges"
Her voice
The Bookworm
A studious girl, preferring books to people,
Her voice
The Bookworm
A studious girl, preferring books to people,
she took stories to bed with her, not boys.
You'd have thought that hers was a Puritan soul,
she appeared so shy and quiet, so unworldly.
But she was plotting to lure, in time, her own prince,
charming him to her side, away from all others.
"Shoo!" she said loud in her head, to imaginary rivals.
Immersed in her books, she would yet contradict them.
She told herself she would not need a shoe of glass,
a golden coach, a glorious gown, or any such fairy illusion.
They, she knew, were ephemeral as a young girl's
first loveliness. No, she would cast a different spell,
loop herself around his heart with ropes of reality, lasting.
What became of the girl on her bed with a book?
The fuel of her dreams was torched by her reading
to create a blaze of desire and realisation, still burning.
There is room in life to go to the edge of thought
and weave it into a serious longing, then use that as a basket
holding real bricks, for your house with strong walls, your good roof.
[A self-portrait? Not in every respect, though some details match. I was and am a bookworm, but not this bookworm.]
Linking to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #399
Linking to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #399
go to the edge of thought
ReplyDeleteand weave it into a serious longing... love that!!
A magical write - reminded me of The Never Ending Story and the peace that can be found in the kinship of words
ReplyDeleteYes, those childish dreams and longings are best left behind as life's experiences teach a little more than story books (that just wet our appetite for more) which we often discover for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI am sure we may give similar advice from our own experiences Rosemary.
I enjoyed this poem immensely, Rosemary, and I can see a lot of myself in it - not the Puritan soul though :) I found my prince but still prefer books to people - and these lines definitely apply to me:
ReplyDelete'She told herself she would not need a shoe of glass,
a golden coach, a glorious gown, or any such fairy illusion'.
*Bookworm salute* I think I may have met her or a close sister of hers at my library a time or two. Bookworms all have their own sorts of wriggles.
ReplyDeletei think most in the end will go for the one who can provide some security: a home, income, and maybe love. pragmatism most times will top dreams.
ReplyDeletean intriguing poem, Rosemary. :)
I love "There is room in life to go to the edge of thought"... it somehow reassures me that we are capable of more than we think we are 💜
ReplyDeleteI had to smile that she was confident enough to cast her own reality spell. Now that was magical.
ReplyDeleteloop herself around his heart with ropes of reality, lasting.
A wonderful read. I am a voracious reader, too. I especially love the basket of bricks for strong walls and good roof.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see you in this portrait, Rosemary, even though I realize it is not a self-portrait. I like the ending...with the house with strong walls!!
ReplyDeleteinteresting poem with some real questions and thoughts... "What became of the girl on her bed with a book? " this line makes you want an answer
ReplyDelete"What became of the girl on the bed with a book?" ... a question we may ask ourselves often! A thoughtful and entertaining read!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this bookworm
ReplyDeleteI love books too...My youngest son loves to buy me books for the holidays...and I cherish them :) Lovely piece.
ReplyDeleteWell you had me looking for your phone # holding a book in one hand and a rose in the other. hehe
ReplyDeleteGood write!
ZQ
What a tender story. I love so many of the lines here especially: "There is room in life to go to the edge of thought and weave it into a serious longing". I could see pieces of myself in this girl too.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this. The perspective it is written from, as well as the content, brought to my mind Edith Wharton's novel, The Age of Innocence: “We can't behave like people in novels, though, can we?”
ReplyDeleteA tribute to all bookworms..of which I'm one. Enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the way the final stanzas felt so active & the linked the reading with the bricks & fire. :) Great inspiration for the week!
ReplyDeleteI liked it very much!
ReplyDelete