Intended by the Dead
The leaves are silent in the serried books
that line my shelves, but they’re prepared to speak
when touched by an inquiring hand. Upon
their pristine surface stand the characters
intended by the dead. I’m gazing at
my Sixteenth Century, where Camões
speaks out in Portuguese. The languages
of the Renaissance cluster like sardines
on my white shelves – Italian, German, French –
and what they teach is information. In
the rush of centuries, so much is lost
that we can’t comprehend it. These few leaves
trace some of what remains of thought; they have
their value, and I’ve studied them. I’ve learned
a thing or two about the past, from Rome
to Luther, and these books have taught me it.
Intended by the Dead
-
ray miller
- Perspicacious Poster
- Posts: 7482
- Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:23 am
I’m gazing at my Sixteenth Century, - what, do you have a shelf or section for each century? I get ridiculed at home because I keep our books in alphabetical order. I'd not considered chronological order.
they have their value, and I’ve studied them.
Should that read other way round? I've studied them and they have their value.
they have their value, and I’ve studied them.
Should that read other way round? I've studied them and they have their value.
I'm out of faith and in my cups
I contemplate such bitter stuff.
I contemplate such bitter stuff.
Hi Ray,
Yup, chronological order, with each century divided by langauge (in alphabetical order). That's for literature. History, religion and philosophy, art, get their own shelvings. It's all very complicated! But it helps me find my way around (and visualize) the collection, which is a few thousand volumes or eighty-six boxes when packed. I am a hoarder on this front.
You could be right about that second line. I'll have a think!
Cheers,
John
Yup, chronological order, with each century divided by langauge (in alphabetical order). That's for literature. History, religion and philosophy, art, get their own shelvings. It's all very complicated! But it helps me find my way around (and visualize) the collection, which is a few thousand volumes or eighty-six boxes when packed. I am a hoarder on this front.
You could be right about that second line. I'll have a think!
Cheers,
John
I declutter. If I'm unlikely to read the book again then it goes to another 
Hi Phil,
Rita is great at decluttering! I for my part have got rid of most of my C20th novels, which I don't much expect to read again, but still have a long way to go, as you see. It is in aprt because the library is a reference library ,for the books i write. At least, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
Cheers,
John
Rita is great at decluttering! I for my part have got rid of most of my C20th novels, which I don't much expect to read again, but still have a long way to go, as you see. It is in aprt because the library is a reference library ,for the books i write. At least, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
Cheers,
John