Musings from my conservatory

By nature, I am an assiduous
collector of books and trivia;

sometimes I sift, sort the wheat
from the chaff, but mostly, I just store,
not so much as to hoard for the sake
of hoarding, but more in the fashion

of an overly cautious squirrel
readying itself for winter.

Often, when I open a second-hand book, 

a notation on the flyleaf will catch my eye;

just as happened last week when I picked 

up a a slightly tattered copy of 'October and 

other poems,' by Robert Bridges.

'To Jane, with regard from your father,'

read the faded, black ink inscription.

No surname, no further clue and even the 

little printed certificate of merit, (the book's

origin clearly being a school prize-giving

ceremony,) was a blank canvas.   

An unfortunate oversight? Perhaps, but
combined with 'regard' rather than 'love,'

it had me imagining the circumstances
under which a young girl came by such
a dismissive gesture, which led me to
conclude that hers was perhaps not
a childhood made in heaven;

the book itself, easily post-dating 

the suffragette movement. 

As for trivia, well, one never knows

when it might come in handy.

For example, I know the intimate
workings of a Wilson Cloud Chamber
and that a single sea oyster can filter
up to a hundred litres of water every day; 

And even now, from childhood memory,

plus much practise at the breakfast table,

I can recite the entire contents listed 

on a box of Kellogs Cornflakes.

Reviews

[Madison Rose]

This is a beautiful poem Beccy, and a wondrous adventure. I visualize your personal library as being full of treasures that include personal stories, and your own thoughts to go along with each book. Stories about stories is a wonderful, intelligent, and highly creative idea, thanks for the interesting read.

[Tom]

The said book had an interesting story to tell even before you opened a page !

Nicely penned Beccy, trivia in itself about the self and eloquent in its entirety !

[Tom McRoberts]

I love this piece. It's obsessive, but seems to revel in it. Your offbeat delivery prevents the details from becoming overwhelming. Instead we feel the protagonist's passion, and even a touch of nostalgia. I particularly enjoyed the squirrel metaphor in the opening stanza, tremendous way of romanticising our hobby!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

too bad you're not on our Logan trivia team...you would have fun...we do many contests...

all of us so into it.

your poem made me a bit sad...the book, the inscription...how can you have one of those on an ebook or kindle...mmmm

second hand books...someday there will be no books left...it will not be fair.

[emmajoy]

Such 'musings' should be compulsory if only to birth such a fascination of observations, Beccy! You have a way of reading my thoughts.. sharing secrets i've not shared.. such as the smell and feel of an old book and the touches of past that sift into the imagination in the process. You feel with passion, whether roaring or whispering.. so love that.. truly.

Your writing is special

[ANTO]

"more in the fashion
of an overly cautious squirrel
readying itself for winter" - now that is cautious !

Re the note in the book, I would speculate that the 'regards' statement is indicative of a certain era (or class) Beccy. But now, I see you already knew that. I tend to write me reviews as I read, sorry.

I get more than musings from this little write. I get a sense of 'What was it all for?' because I often mull over the same thing -
I often do a head-audit like this and more than not I think "yeah, here I am with a head full of facts I will never use and sometimes I feel so lonely that I would swap them all to be one of those who finds discussing football/fashion scintillating."
Books can keep us enthralled, can let us into fantastical worlds but when we close the covers we are here in the lonely world and the book has stopped its magic for a little while.

A very thought-stirring write Beccy.

[h d e rushin]

the rational-emotional mix is what makes a good poem as well as a good carrot I suspect.
But when I read your poems they are forever alive with movement and endowed with life.
There is a happening , or a flavoring, or a context to be reckoned with, but never just
a single person doing one single thing at a time. Poems that are made from the animations
of real events depict the most vibrant of characters and plots.

There is an old used book store in downtown Detroit, King books, which smells like what a
pile of one million books should smell like, that I make a habit of visiting once a week.
I'm in love also with the notes left in the margins or the aniseikonia of different book marks
left by the former readers. I go there not to fall in love, but to be in love.

wonderful write dear beccy.....

dana

[CD Campbell]

Cheeky. Maybe a tad melancholic. A good glimpse into you. I enjoyed it Beccy, but why Kellogs Cornflakes? CD

[....................]

What a delightful read. I, too, collect books for 'the winter' and all the other seasons that find me with down time. This piece speaks to me and I feel a familiarity in the lines of poetic prose. THanks for sharing.

[Beccy]

Thanks Woody. Yes, it is a bit of a departure for me; not quite a poem, not quite a story, I promise not to succumb too often. :)

Beccy.