Friday, August 08, 2014

Poetry Friday: "I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-on in the world between the covers of books...."


This week really got away from me. I meant to blog all week, but we've been cleaning and decluttering and getting ready for a new school year. I bought a new bookcase, moved a bookcase to the basement, and we came up with a bunch of bags of books to haul away.

Not a poetry book among them. I guess I'm hanging on to all of the poetry. (And too many other books, too, apparently, because we still don't have enough shelf space.)

But I forgive and re-forgive myself for my book habits, because ... well, as Dylan Thomas said:

I could never have dreamt that there were such goings-on in the world between the covers of books, such sandstorms and ice blasts of words, such slashing of humbug, and humbug, too, such staggering peace, such enormous laughter, such and so many blinding bright lights breaking across the just-awaking wits and splashing all over the pages in a million bits and pieces all of which were words, words, words, and each of which was alive forever in its own delight and glory and oddity and light.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Poetry Friday round up is at Mary Lee's A Year of Reading

10 comments:

Mary Lee said...

This is my life right now, too!

Anonymous said...

Now that's a quote! A few years ago I bought two good-sized bookcases and was disgusted by how quickly I filled them up and still needed more bookcases. If only I could get rid of my husband's books, I'd have a lot more room for mine. :)

Carol said...

Oh dear. I planned to declutter this summer, and now it's the last week before school and I haven't done it yet. Oh dear! Right there with you on the books. I just need more bookcases! I love this Dylan Thomas quote.

Karen Edmisten said...

Kindred spirits, Mary Lee!

Monica, I laughed at "and was disgusted by how quickly I filled them up..." So funny, and so me. Every time we get rid of some books, we consider it license to go to a book sale.

Carol, just skip the declutter and buy another bookcase. :)

Violet N. said...

Oh my, the Dylan Thomas poem is stunning.

As for books and bookshelves, we'll soon be facing the grim reaper here, as a bit of extra water in the house has rendered some of our old shelves unsalvageable so we have to buy new and hubby has laid down an ultimatum: some of those old darlings have to go.

GatheringBooks said...

This is beautiful. I could never let go of my books. The more I give away, the more I buy as 'replacement' although of course there is no such thing as replacing words that have left you. What a tribute to words Dylan Thomas has written.

Irene Latham said...

delight and glory and oddity and light! Yes!! Thank you for sharing.

Bridget Magee said...

My husband and I have moved A LOT over the years (multiple houses in CA, WI, and now AZ) and in every move the boxes of books are always sacred. And in each house a new book shelf is added. Happiness. =)

Karen Edmisten said...

Oh, Violet, tough choices!
Myra, I fall into the replacement trap all the time, too.
Irene, that is my favorite line, I think.
Bridget, we have moved a number of times, too, and invariably, with each move, someone comments on the number of (heavy!) boxes of books. :)

Anonymous said...

so he loves to read?