On the precipice of dusk
only the librarian
can see the keen edge
of lost lucidity
because the night
is infinite, insistent
insatiable, a brute
devouring sanity and sense
scribbling wacky verses
on the bedroom walls.
That’s why the librarian
always lights the lamp,
walks upright through the endless halls
while possessing words to stay
awake
alert while
mumbling incantations to never ever
cross the perimeter
to the blood-inked dreams
of night adorned in gold below,
below.
Pierre Alechinsky
Today Lisa hosts at dVerse and asks us to write about edges and fringes. Sometimes I think of falling asleep as a crossing to a world much darker than what we perceive in the lucidity of light.
March 2, 2021
Björn Rudbergs writings 
You’re close to the edge with this one, Björn, with my favourite, the aged librarian. Pierre Alechinsky’s art is new to me and I like it very much. I love the idea of ‘falling asleep as a crossing to a world much darker than what we perceive in the lucidity of light’ and the opening phrase ‘On the precipice of dusk’. There is a delicious demented tone in the lines:
’…a brute
devouring sanity and sense
scribbling wacky verses
on the bedroom walls.’
No wonder the librarian always lights the lamp!
I suffer a lot from nightmares, so if I could do as the librarian I would.
The Aged Librarian is wise beyond his years. It feels like whatever it is hovers just at the gateway into sleep so if you go quickly you’ll pass unnoticed. I’ve missed his view and his insights about the world.
‘only the librarian
can see the keen edge
of lost lucidity’
– he seems to live on the fringes of insanity: other people’s, perhaps, while he remains the sole sane observer…
I love your librarian poems, and I picked the same line that Ingrid did. He seems to live in a fixed zone, the demarcation between light and darkness.
my poetry always feels like i am “mumbling incantations to the never ever.” great line
The librarian as lighthouse and keeper. Really love this as a person who has worked as a librarian, it is glorious praise. Super creative take.
Edgy wonderful. Bjorn. Love Mr Library man, lighting his lamp and mumbling his incantations. Awesome write..
love your play on words … our sleep world is more real than our awake one
Your opening line draws us in expertly. The incantations in the empty library at night gave me goosebumps!
This sounds like the start of an intriguing movie.. great imagery!!
Especially here… a brute
devouring sanity and sense
scribbling wacky verses
on the bedroom walls…
Pat
You know – in addition to being fantastic, this poem has a rather ‘edgy’ feel to it – rather ‘creepy’ too, I think.
-David
Love the Librarian Bjorn — fascinating character!
Yes. Spooky but dreamlike. Somersaulting through shadows and light and fear and gloom. Very moody. I like it.
The librarian left me on the edge with a question…what is the gold below, below?!
I do love reading your Librarian series. Splendid.
Probably why we are all skeepless during times of stress. The world is already too dark an unexplainable. (K)
I love how he tries to stay on the outer edges of sleep.Wonderful Bjorn.
Sounds like the premise for a fantastic novel.
I really like the idea of night as a brute to be battled by a lamp lit librarian.
Librarians always fascinate–both good and evil on some level–loved this!
Obviously, they must maintain a respectable stature to exude confidence in their knowledge and memory to provide immediate answers to reference queries.
Hank
“the keen edge of lost lucidity” as nightmares is perfect.
WOWZA, powerful imagery which grabs the reader, and I love the tight construction–not one wasted word. Very impressive…but I know from years past that you are a 5-Star writer, so I’m not surprised, coming back to dVerse after a long hiatus. Bravo–stay safe and healthy and bring us more excellent verse 🙂
This is fine, Bjorn … mighty fine!!!!!
Beautiful Poetry 🙂