Book Burning

One last time, I pass

Among the shelves

With a lighted torch in hand,

Observing a long life’s work.

Brimming with time and memories,

The dark wood of the shelves

Stands mute before the mystery of

What’s to come. Philosophies of

Dead men, catalogued and listed

Like headstones in a graveyard,

Feed the eyes, but leave

The spirit starved.

Histories, fantasies, and the

Spasmic mutterings of

Those that sleep do not reach

Heaven, but fall into dark,

Narrow graves with their makers.

The walls of these halls of

Learning are closing in.

Left or right, there’s no way out.

There’s one place left to go:

Up. Let the torch drop. 

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Nuances of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 at play in this. The "firemen" are out there everywhere with their torches of censorship. But we must also remember that communist manifestos and books like Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler are still out there serving as propaganda for the weak-minded masses of their followers. It's okay for the general reader to read these things. They can digest the material in the historical and political context of the publications. I've never read anything so vile that I could not glean at least some good from it. I've also read various religious texts from all over the world trying to understand what and why others believe what they believe. It hasn't changed my personal beliefs and if anything it solidified my faith by the process of comparison. I'm a Christian but I don't seek to proselytize or convince others what they should believe. I believe we should respect individuals and personal choices and beliefs whether we adhere to them or not. I think that's just part of being a "decent" human being. It's the uneducated and uninitiated that I fear for the most in the swell of propaganda. Show me a man who has read a thousand books and knows a little of each one and we could be the best of friends. But show me another man who has read only one book and in that one book is his whole stock and store committed to memory by rote and that man could be my worst enemy. Perspective is the answer to me. We have to be able to look at things from all sides to get a proper understanding of the whole reality of any given situation. I teach my kids that... social and historical context as well as a 360 degree rational perspective help us make informed and logical decisions that govern our views. Also, they help us defend our beliefs with authority and conviction. Thank you for the thought invoking read. I enjoyed your write. F.

[Delmar Cooper]

A beautifully written work. I have no idea what it means or even if meaning is a relevant term in regarding this. I know what I felt: I felt a suicide impulse in flickering torchlight. All the places, the goals the Alexandrias, awaiting suttee with me. Even the bread crumbs of escape to be consumed.
So, obviously, one of us has a troubled soul.
Thanks for sharing.

[Lorry]

This brought personal memories back to me of Nottingham just losing my writing and all the books to flames kiss, but my home as well.
It could be said that at least I escaped with my life, but that is not the first thought you have when you're looking at your home burning to the ground,but just like the phoenix, it did mean the beginning of a new life and path for me, which led from the city life I detested to a new beginning in rural countryside where I get to live and work amongst all the beauty that nature has to offer.
Every now and again though I think of another book I lost and it feels like it just happened again, but all things we treasure are replaceable, except the most important, life.

[Ookpik]

Hey Laz,

There came a moment for me some years ago not unlike this - where it suddenly dawned on me that opening another text by Dostoevsky wasn't going to help me to lead a real, fulfilling life.

Though books and ideas had been a comfort for me for a very long time, I quickly learned that women appreciate more a man that dances than they do a man that talks about dancing.

I didn't set my bookshelf on fire, but I did make it a practice to balance my escapism with the occasional free-dive into what this word could offer.

Anyways, as you can guess I really related to this piece - apologies if my windbag is bleating a little here.

-Ook