Thursday, April 17, 2014

"Collection"


"Collection"

I've a few Madonnas,
angels, a statue of John Paul II,
all arranged nicely
on grandmother's walnut shelf.

I know the Christ child
and Murano crucifix
will be passed down for generations,

but what will happen
to my books, double-shelved,
behind cabinet doors,
stacked table-high bedside?

Perhaps I can stop
bringing them home; after all,
I've learned to look
a puppy in the eyes,
say "Oh, no!" but books,

how will I say "No" to half-off,
used, sometimes out-of-print?
Twenty dollars and I'm walking out
with an armload.

My husband says it's "addiction",
I say "collection", point out
it's a lot cheaper than jewelry.

by Margaret Bednar, April 17, 2014


Behind those cabinet doors…


and this is just the first floor - the kids library (not shown) is upstairs …




…and my "solution" to the books stacked on the floor -
a perfect nightstand for the book lover:



This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's - Collections"  I feel like I have just confessed :)



For the month of April, I am participating in NaPoWriMo2014 or National Poetry Writing Month.  The website is HERE.

In celebration of this year's challenge, I will be giving away a free book of my poetry.  If you are interested in participating in this drawing, please click the red logo at the top of my side bar and leave your name and a means to reach (blog, email, etc) you in the comment section.



PLEASE INDICATE YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DRAWING OR I WILL ASSUME YOU ARE JUST COMMENTING.  THANKS. 

11 comments:

Ella said...

I love your poem and the photos you shared-a view into your world.
I laughed at the word addiction and you say collection. I hear that word in my home, too. Yes, those puppy eyes and thrifty deals lure me, too. Wonderful to read-I love your house!

Susie Clevenger said...

I have that same book/collection addiction...love the photos!

Anonymous said...

haha! love that final verse and convo with your hubby ~

Anonymous said...

Certainly, the best kind of collection to have--jewels of a sort! I confess I've very much gotten into a kindle but it is so much easier for me to read with my eye problems. Still, books must be bought if we are to still have them! k.

Other Mary said...

I am absolutely with you on that one! I never thought of the "cheaper than jewelry" to tell hubby. That's brilliant! I'm getting my bookselves rebuilt, and agonizing over whether to "share" some books or not. I won't have more room, but not enough; I'm double stacked and spilling out too! Love this Margaret!

Kathryn Dyche said...

What a great collection to have, loved the pics and the poetry.

TexWisGirl said...

loved it. :) a great obsession to have, i think. and i'm not a reader. :)

Kerry O'Connor said...

I love the way you have stacked and displayed your books, Margaret. It looks so attractive. I still have the books I read as a child when my weekly pocket money could buy me a Nancy Drew or Enid Blyton!

Maude Lynn said...

I love it! There is no such thing as too many books.

Grace said...

I love your collection of books as I don't have that many ~ Definitely cheaper than jewelry, smiles ~

Susan said...

I love the way you move from the Holy to the holy in this poem. The photos are neat glimpse into your life--and I mean NEAT! My bookshelves need more room always even though I recently donated a truck full of theatre books to a youth theatre!