Saturday, August 24, 2013

in maine

 this is where i'm writing this morning 
i'm in northeast harbor, maine
in the maine studies room
in the village library.
 a fresh breeze coming in that bank of windows
  the collection here is all about maine
there are a few secrets
rarities that need special permission
 a book by someone who
i remember from ages past
 and a few titles i'd like to get to know
 bad beaver tales, indeed
 boats and ships appear everywhere
 and history is palpable
 hannah is archivist at this public library
when she's not hiking
 showing me amazing rocky places
 she knows the park* well, now
 and has favorite quiet, 
almost hidden 
places to look long
when she's not
 at work
 this library is beautiful
and new
with profound respect for place 
and books
and bookish things
 with all kinds of art
 and even a few ancient 
beautiful things
 these ships are "woolies"
made from yarn scraps 
 they're all over this library
 the archive has many treasures
 all about this place


 this treasure i love,
a painted interior door
of a safe
in the archive room
 and down the street
there is a funny funny fellow
lest we take ourselves
too seriously
this little maine interlude
is special, because in a week i will be
back at work
teaching in a different program and school.

*Acadia National Park
Mount Desert Island, Maine

15 comments:

  1. aw, shucks! she does, however, have dimples!

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  2. it looks like a beautiful place and encouraging to know someone has felt such things are important enough to have a new home. it must be a marvelous place to work - and play.

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  3. yes, jean, i am falling in love with this new, lovely library.

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  4. so much travel this summer, so many changes in store this fall, SO LOVE the pics of h at the water and rocks, so glad you get this time with her and in maine before everything shifts.

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  5. Beautiful places - library and rocky coast. Oh Maine, if I could drive to work easily, I might like to live there for a while.

    School on Monday, savoring the me-scheduled time.

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  6. wow, wonderful energy. love.
    and pretty too :0)

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  7. Greetings from Rome, dear sister. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful pictures. Hannah looks great! I'm having a grand time, learning a little Italian, seeing so many old/ancient buildings/ruins. Tomorrow I go into Rome to see all those wonderful catholic buildings/icons and the Pieta. Natalie's sister, Myriam, is the cruise art historian and is sharing loads of knowledge with us.
    Glad you wandered over to Maine.
    Have you found out where you will be yet?
    See you in September.
    Love, Claudia

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  8. What a treasure trove! Still laughing over the bad beaver tales...

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  9. aimee, me, too. maine is lovely, but now home is better!
    valerie, i SO get that!
    roz, good to be around the younger ones and enjoy!
    claudia, you are a lucky duck, give my love to rich, etc, and to italy, too!

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  10. Hi Velma, just found your blog - so nice to see pictures of Maine and the library and some of its cultural artefacts. Thank you!

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  11. welcome, ooc, do you know maine's coast? and welcome!

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  12. hope you are relaxed and prepared for the next big leap. sending you hugs and energy.

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