When first entering the library, with your shadow darkly following behind, you walk up to the counter and ask the aged librarian (who’s wise to understand to understand carved in dust) and say:
- I need a book to match my curls, would you think it’s best with hues of Piketty or Philip Roth, or should I try to dye myself infernal hiding inside Dante?
- I need a place to sing, where can I find the restroom?
- I’m hungry and need some food for thought, what Dewey Decimal can give me calories that last?
- I find this silence too oppressive, in what department can I scream?
- My questions are like desert sand, please give me words of water? Can you kindly act as my oasis?
The aged librarian caresses thinning hair, and gazes at you with his milky eyes. Most likely he mistakes you for himself, or a son he never had. He says:
- A random quote in Latin, while giggling at a joke he HEARD when he was five.
- He says nothing, but you read the Morse-code of heartbeats and keep it to yourself.
- The world’s a hovercraft, and we are passengers until we reach the shores of Styx.
- He tells you where to find the poetry department and starts reciting passages from Howl.
- Would you like a tepid cup of tea from my chipped mug?
And thus the library will stay insane.
Insane Clown by Banksy
The out of standard prompt by Izy at toads always brings a surprise, and the multiple choice one was great fun to use.
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February 24, 2017
Wow this is a indeed ‘out of the box’
Much love…
This made me smile! : )
Your poem has a post-modern feel, the reader is placed within the scene and asked to choose from equally unlikely options. I like the way you left the outcome of the conversation uncertain, prone to the insanity of the bibliophile.
So many magnificent lines here Björn! You went so gloriously out of the box you cornered the sphere. The bibliophile, logophile and good old fashioned punnist in me rejoiced reading this.
Funny I remember a time long ago. Our libraries use to be nice and quiet with the librarians shhhh’ings us. Now the library is nosey no one whispers. I found a small box room with about 10 tables each with for chairs. This room was called the quiet room. Haha! No one talks but the slam books, push chairs, cellphones ring. What happen to the days when we feared getting kicked out for being too loud.
Bizarre…and strangely delightful!
<>….this was a spot of fun in otherwise bleak days, wasn’t it? I love how you did a multiple choice for both characters: your librarian and your narrator. In particular my favorite was “in which department may I scream.” Thanks for posting to the out of standard!
Very surreal.
Where can I find this library? It’s dark and deliciously insane. It makes our library seem twee and boringly cheerful!
I love the lines: ‘I find this silence too oppressive, in what department can I scream?’
and
‘The aged librarian caresses thinning hair, and gazes at you with his milky eyes. Most likely he mistakes you for himself, or a son he never had’
and
‘He says nothing, but you read the Morse-code of heartbeats and keep it to yourself’.
Pyschotropic library trip…brilliant.
Brilliant. I love this seemingly normal day yet it feels it could be in another dimension of time.
I read this with a smile on my face the entire time ~~
An innovative form that works really well with the setting. The polite and ordered – though eerily unhinged – dialogue is Joker-esque in it’s absurd – yet chilling – effect.
morse-code of heartbeats. man, what a great line ~
Wonderfully creative! Love how you used the format.