This week I spent two wonderful days in the library at Penhros College in Perth, talking with lots and lots of wonderful young people about books and writing.
I haven’t yet received any photos that I can use from my presentations, but I did manage to snap this one of the display the library staff had put together:
One lunchtime, I sat in the library during the lunch hour, chatting with girls who came to speak to me, and working in between. It occured to me that the library was very different from libraries of the past, and found myself drafting a poem about what I saw – and what I didn’t see.
The Library at Lunchtime
No hushes
Or shushes
Or whispered warnings
No glares
Or stares
Or muttered reprimands
Only games
And smiles
And laughter
And kids sharing books
Sprawled on bright mats
Or, on their own,
Lost in blissful
Turning of pages.
(Poem copyright Sally Murphy, 2016)
Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is hosted by Teacher Dance.
“Lost in blissful/Turning of pages.” Paradise!
Thank you Michelle 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that school libraries are not being rendered obsolete by gadgetry! I’m afraid public libraries here are headed in that direction. 🙁
Thanks Diane. I hope there will always be a place for book-filled, child-filled libraries in the world.
Hi Sally, have been with a granddaughter since lunch, so am late, but enjoyed your story of a visit and that it was special. Love the “Lost in blissful/turning of pages”. I hope you share pics sometime too. That bulletin board looks wonderful.
Thank you Linda!
Now THAT sounds like a lively, blissful library. Thanks for sharing. And for sharing yourself with those lucky kids! :0)
Thanks Robyn.