A Good Book

A Poem by charlie

"...grassy undertones; the tang of acid; and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness..."

My friend wants to know: Why do old books smell?

And as I first heard the words I rightly couldn’t tell.

But as I sit and cogitate... meditate... ruminate...

Perhaps I can extrapolate: They just weren’t written well ? ...

But that can’t be the case, and that answer isn’t fair.

Let us take a look at that old chestnut sitting there:

Its edging on the pages, browned; binding - clearly breaking down...

It’s evidently been around and,.. could do with some repair.

It’s been blessed, and bashed, and sworn upon. Drawn battle grounds to fight upon.

Laid corner stones to build upon, and daily bread to feed upon...

And through the ages, rich and poor, this book's been hoisted up.

It’s been cast down and burned to naught, yet still it’s words won’t stop...

So I wonder now, with keen intrigue, that it may just be fittin’:

To conclude this old, smelly book was, indeed, well written.

© 2016 charlie

Author's Note

Inspired by my wife, and the Bible

My Review

Would you like to review this Poem?
Login | Register

Reviews

Melobldnfr

What a cute piece you've mustered here!

Posted 7 Years Ago

7 Years Ago

Hello visitor. :) I thank you for reading.

Nirupama.H

It's interesting how you started the piece like you were speaking about one physical piece of book but went on to speak about the content in it and the events it has been through.
Really liked the piece.
:)

Posted 8 Years Ago

8 Years Ago

Thanks a lot. I appreciate your feedback :)

Anonymous

I knew this was about the Bible! I really like this poem :)

Posted 8 Years Ago

8 Years Ago

Hey :) . Thanks for reading, Sami

Beccy

This speaks to me so eloquently. I love books, the older the better and I have a large collection, many that were left to me by my grandmother and also those I have been collecting since I was a child. I find them fascinating, especially those with notes that were penned so many years ago, by owners who have long since left this earthly level.

Books of a certain, golden age, are imbued with character in a way that no modern substitute can ever hope to emulate and among my favourites are the poetry books my gran gifted me. The most treasured to me being an 1800 edition of Lyrical Ballads, which contains the original version of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. I shall never part with a single one of them, despite I am the despair of my family.

Thank you Charlie for this lovely poem.

Beccy.