Random thoughts of a librarian

X950 G435 in pencil
I get to write numbers on the title page.
I always thought
Whoever wrote those mysterious markings
In the front of books must be very
Sophisticated.

I’m sorry sir, but yes, you’ll have to
Replace the six books you accidentally
Gave to the Good Will. I understand we
Are charging you over $300 dollars, but
Giving your books away is not a valid
Reason not to pay, according to our policy.

No, no this cutest 7 year old red-headed girl who
Is whip-smart and sits behind the
Desk with me pretending to be a librarian
Is not my daughter. But it makes me happy
When people ask.
It makes me sad too.

I can’t think of a single thing to put up
On my gigantic walls. Something to beat
A 25 foot dragon, a life-size tree growing
Out of the corner with Silverstein to match.
A poem by Miss Nova (of the red hair previously mentioned)
With kites and a summer sky over green grass.
What two-dimensional wonder can I use next?

No one drew on my best-ever art challenge-of-the-
Day: Draw something you would NEVER eat. I
Drew a plate of eyeballs. Maybe I won.

Schools to visit, stories to memorize, craft supplies
To buy, craft materials to prep.
Books to be moved, books to be cleaned,
Books to be read and displayed, songs to
Be learned and all the motions. And publicity
So someone comes. Make sure to call
The dancers, and the art teacher and the teen
Volunteer, “you ARE on your way, right?”. And stats.
Don’t forget to keep track and write up all your stats.
And could you get people to fill out an evaluation too?

Also there’s the bank. And, shoot, that guy
Is sleeping again. And drooling now.
Cough cough I hope I don’t get tb.

I have a chair behind my desk but
It is not for sitting. Rather it is another
Surface on which to pile books, ghosts made
Out of spoons, construction paper spiders.

I suppose tomorrow I should wear heels.