Featuring cherita!


September 28, 2018

Poetry Friday--Busman's Holiday

On September 15, I attended the 4th annual New Hampshire Poetry Festival. The first three years it was held in downtown Manchester, this year it moved to New England College in Henniker. During the lunch break I took a walk in the picturesque little town. In typical "busman's holiday" form, I visited the local public library. (For those who don't know, I've been a public librarian in NH for 32 years.)




The Tucker Free Library, built in 1903, has typical classical lines. A look inside, though, was breathtaking. The well-preserved architectural details, and displays of town history, had me snapping photos with my iPhone. The woman at the front desk (whose name I neglected to get) answered my questions patiently, for which I am grateful.

Here are more photos, two of which I've enhanced with cherita. Enjoy!


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

texting...

aware of her friends
who are miles away

totally unaware
that at any time
the sky could fall


Even the screen doors are a delight!


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Text:

sun-kissed Saturday afternoon

Winnie-the-Pooh
ponders the lack of readers

the children's librarian
sighs and counts the minutes
'til closing

The cherita above was written as if I were sitting in the children's room--it is no reflection on the young woman who worked in the children's room that day.






The happily retired Jone is hosting the Poetry Friday Round-Up at Deowriter.

32 comments:

  1. No matter the enthusiasm, I can imagine the librarian counting the minutes if it was quiet. Love reading about your visit, the columns & Winnie-the-Pooh! That sky falling possibility seems more real than ever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the sky is slipping, if not falling. Then what happens?

      Delete
  2. These are both wonderful–I love your
    "totally unaware
    that at any time
    the sky could fall"
    but I hope our sky doesn't fall, not quite yet at least.
    Poor Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore– hope some kids drop by soon, thanks Diane!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pooh and friends on a shelf were a completely unexpected surprise. If I were a kid, I'd make sure to drop by to check up on them.

      Delete
  3. Wow - what a library! Thanks for giving us a glimpse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane, you had me at that falling sky! xo

      Delete
    2. Sally, I'm always happy to share my finds.

      Delete
    3. Irene, that line was so obvious a choice two weeks ago, and even more so this week!

      Delete
  4. Thank you for sharing a beautiful public library, Diane. I liked both of your cheritas but felt sad after reading #2. #BooksMatter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. #2 wasn't intended as sad, merely wistful. Having to spend the day indoors, in a basement room, when the weather is glorious, brings on a feeling of "poor me." Something Eeyore surely knows.

      Delete
  5. Of COURSE you visited the library -- and what a treat you found! (One of the things I was most anxious to see when we were in Germany was my "sister's" school!!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Besides curiosity, in an unfamiliar town, your best bet for a clean restroom is the public library! And, as happened to me this week when I got sucked into the Senate hearing, if one is in need of a WiFi connection--there's the library!

      Delete
  6. Thanks for sharing your library visit. Of course I love hearing about Pooh. Enjoyed your poems and pics. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The stuffed Pooh and friends are obviously very old and I wondered if there was a story behind them, but the girl in the children's room didn't know. :-(

      Delete
  7. Oh, I do the same thing, I'm always visiting libraries when I'm on holiday! It's so interesting to see how different libraries can be in different places, yet visiting them always feels so familiar and comforting. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was in a tiny old library on Thursday, that despite its obsolete collection, could offer me WiFi and conversation on a contemporary topic. Indeed, I was comforted.

      Delete
  8. Doesn't everyone seek out a library while on vacation? In addition to charming public libraries, I love to chance upon one of the Little Free Libraries scattered in the most surprising places. I can see from your photos why you wanted to snap away! Your cherita are as charming as the photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If everyone doesn't seek out libraries, they should--no two libraries are alike--from collections to decorations to buildings.

      Delete
  9. I love that you visited the library. I always like to do that whenever I can, too! And I love your poems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ruth! And keep visiting those libraries.

      Delete
  10. Glad you enjoyed the event, Diane - didn't realize you were in the neighborhood! I had considered going, since you told me about it last year, but I just couldn't swing the cost, considering I'm heading to Honesdale, PA in a couple weeks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have fun in Honesdale and please share what you learn.

      Delete
  11. Ah that falling sky... somehow it got me thinking of the Good Place (Do you watch that? If so, when Chedi is saved from the sky falling!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't had a working tv in years. I watch a little bit on my desktop, but not much. I'll check and see if we have the Good Place at the library. I'll occasionally binge watch a few seasons of a series.

      Delete
  12. Ooooh - thank you for taking us along on your visit. Beautiful building, and your pictures and poems are the perfect introduction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's amazing how well preserved it is (or perhaps recently restored).

      Delete
  13. Great building- perfect for inspiring your excellent poems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The tin ceilings have so many different patterns--I was amazed.

      Delete
  14. I'm quite taken by the perspective in both of these poems—the voice of the poems and also the artistry of the photographs. I do tend to wonder how many phone-bound visitors miss that beautiful slice of sky. And oh, that adorable pondering Pooh bear!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm of two minds about the phones. They are undeniably addictive and yet, the camera comes in handy!

      Delete
  15. Ooh, I need to visit. I loved the texting cherita.

    ReplyDelete