Anarchy in a small town

 

 

Some seized the bank, until the cash was spent

Some seized the bakery, until the flour ran out

Some seized the pub, a short-term solution

The suppliers would not restock

 

Some appropriated the library

In quiet, without a single crossed word

In broad daylight, uncontested

 

And they read the books

And spoke out the poems

And acted out the plays to each other

Until all’s imagination was fit to burst, freshly every day

 

The doors were opened,

To let in the poor, the hungry and the hungover,

And we read together of economics and cuisine and medicine by day,

Replenishing their losses,

And fables and ghost stories and prayers by night,

Adding to our wealth

 

The only rules were don’t misfile the book that feeds you

Nor crease nor tear,

And always use a bookmark

For while books are just paper and words are just letters, and letters just shapes on a page,

Facts are facts, opinions are opinions and flights of fantasy are real indeed to those in the reading.

 

When we are brave we will go back out and work out our place in the world

But always come back to this our library of thoughts and knowledge