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

[Woody]

love your musings and can easily relate. I, too, am old fashioned and enjoy reading a book with my fingertips as well as my eyes. I get drunk on the smell of paper. haha if you knew the kind of trivia I collect.. and I think it's getting worse with age. not that I'm old, mind.
another lovely one, Beccy.
I do have an observation though. as I'm partial to rhymed poems, this felt like prose to me!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

A very adorable poem... I am old fashion and love paper books instead of those kindles... and old book are so wonderful in that nostalgic smell and knowing that there is history outside of the writing.