My future is to walk the aisles of libraries. To follow and to lead, to search in ancient scrolls and books not printed yet. My future is to write my book, be bold with ink. My future is shadowing the aged librarian in my quest to clear out cobwebs and clean the shelves from syllables and dust. My future is to be your voice of reason, to find a path across this treacherous ground. Let this be my manifesto; let this be my promise to do the best I can; to be librarian and man.
first snow falling —
at the empty bird feeder
two sparrows squabble
Toni hosts haibun Monday tonight at dVerse with a prompt on our future plans (especially in writing) and I have plans to write a book on my aged librarian. I also link up to Tuesday Platform at toads.
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November 27, 2017
A book on your librarian sounds wonderful! 🙂 And this line “let this be my promise to do the best I can” resonates with me, as I was just discussing with another writer the things we can control, and the things we can’t.
We can only do the best we can… and now I have taught myself the art of self-publishing… it was easier than I thought…. hopefully our poetry anthology is completed soon.
“to find a path across this treacherous ground”…it takes a brave man to walk across the minefield first. But that is what is called for from a leader.
I think a book about your librarian is a great idea Bjorn. I have enjoyed reading back through the ones you have done, now that I found the tag.
There was a poet a few years ago that was putting out novels in verse. It is a cool concept. I wonder if you would work a plot line through them to show his progression?
I definitely want the poem to follow a plot line… and maybe mix it with some prose and pictures…
I promise not to hold you and another person to not keep the haibun form! I am breaking bad this last day on the staff!
I love the haiku because…it is about the first snow! You know how I love the first snow. I also am glad to hear plans for a book about the aged librarian. It takes a great deal of courage as X says. a lot of courage to do battle when it is needed.
I’ve downloaded the short stories ready to read – the aged librarian will be always on my mind until you publish it, Bjorn!
I love the thought of you searching in ancient scrolls and books not printed yet. And please, be bold with ink! I too need to ‘clean the shelves from syllables and dust’ and I definitely need a voice of reason.
What a seasonally satisfying haiku!
I wish you the best of luck with your plan, Bjorn. You need courage and you need to be able to sell yourself.
I love this line: “to search in ancient scrolls and books not printed yet.” There is hope in the searching of books yet to be.
The first snow is always a miracle!! Birds break its perfect silence, “squabble at the empty feeder.” Oh so perfect!!
Thank you Annell… I tried to comment on yours but the comment didn’t stick
I look forward to further adventures of the librarian. he’s a great creation. I like this haibun, it smells of old books and libraries.
I applaud your ambition, and concur that your character of the aging librarian is worthy of a whole volume. I once hoped that my BLACKTHORNE series could become a book, but now it remains “a work in progress”. Libraries have changed so much today–it might be cool to make your protagonist a time traveler.
I think he is… or maybe eternal going through the libraries of history…
(Tried to comment earlier, so apologies if it pops up twice.)
I can’t help but think the sparrows squabbling at the empty feeder are two halves of the mind forever engaged in battle. Especially when they’re hungry. But maybe that’s just me (both of them;)
And best wishes to you on your publishing endeavors.
A great manifesto and solid dream you have there; to be immersed in a world of books. Nirvana. ( excellent haiku! )
Best wishes on being bold with ink and finishing your book.
I’m looking forward to that!
Write that book! I love the last 3 poetic lines especially.
This is my favorite part (plus the haiku, of course):
“in my quest to clear out cobwebs and clean the shelves from syllables and dust”
A powerful manifesto, Bjorn–an inspiring mission statement! And I love how you express it so poetically!
I do agree with the others, it is only fitting that the aged librarian have his own book, his own portal to unknown stories/adventures.
What a statement! You and father time will need to collaborate!
Dwight
Wow! Great plans. Good luck.
Awesome haibun. Good luck with your future plans Bjorn
much love…
My future is to be your voice of reason, to find a path across this treacherous ground.
What a wonderful manifesto in a self-serving world, Bjorn.
I love your aged librarian series so it’s fabulous to hear that you’re planning on publishing them in a book 😀 All the best, Bjorn ❤️
an aged librarian and first snow, such nostalgia. i’d love to read the story of such an individual, dedicating their time and energy to caring for books, a lovely vocation. super lovely haiku for I love snow very much.
I love this! May I be priviledged to read your book one day, and may there be enough copies that I need not have to squabble!
A very nice topic and the librarian must be the powerhouse of knowledge.
You must write a book, Bjorn! I would love to read it.
I love the idea of just rumaging through library shelves through the dust on old books and finding goodies.
To be someone’s voice of reason, in a world where words have all the power… perfect.
Perfect existence, that is… for a muse. 🙂
This is very motivating and makes me think of a magnificent future!
My mother was a librarian, so that sounds like a wonderful plan to me. (K)
A wonderful manifesto “to do the best I can”. It is always lovely to see the aged librarian.
« to be librarian and man « Man’s technology juxtaposed with the aging librarian
A manifesto from someone of integrity, to remain true to one’s character while fighting all that wishes to strip it from him.
I do love this. Of late, I been reading and savoring novels about librarians. After my kidney transplant, I didn’t want to return to nursing (but I did). I took and passed county tests for a librarian and library supervisor, but ended up going back to hospice in an educational role.
I look forward to that book! he has become such a wonderful, mythic figure – yet so human.
kaykuala
My future is shadowing the aged librarian in my quest to clear out cobwebs and clean the shelves from syllables and dust.
Noble thoughts for the future generation’s benefits. Not many would pursue it this way. A lot of patience needed!
Hank
A book on the aged librarian sounds fantastic … loved how this manifesto trumpeted that project – and the juxtaposition of the haiku was a brilliant finish.