Long ago he was young and green
still uncorrupted by these scrolls
untouched by wisdom, words not seen
he swirled with music uncontrolled
he walked in scent of bloom and girls
and gazed for dreams at star and moon
until seduced by gold and pearls
of written manuscripts, his doom
to be librarian, this fool
who follows shadows of the books
he ceased to see, he went to school
to read what’s felt and never look
inside to sense, be led astray.
Long ago he went from green to grey.
Today Dora inspires us with various aspects of young and green at dVerse, and I had to imagine how it would be for the librarian and how he must have turned his back from the world for the books.
March 5, 2024
Björn Rudbergs writings 
How wonderful to get a glimpse of the ancient librarians youth, and it far from disappoints! Love each line, but especially, “he walked in scent of bloom and girls/
and gazed for dreams at star and moon” — which captures a rhythm to his free youthful gait before he went “from green to grey”! How steadily his character grows in our minds, Björn.
Ha.. it was hard to imagine him as a young man… still uncorrupted by his books.
But you took us there! So well done.
I always love an ancient librarian poem, Björn, having volunteered at the local libraries, and your title applies to me too, as does going from green to grey. I really like the ‘gold and pearls of written manuscripts’.
I imagine that he also gave up a lot for his love of books…
That last line’s a clincher. Your poem about the aged librarian brings to mind these verses from Ecclesiastes: ”The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.“
There is a risk of reading too much forgetting yourself…
Lovely, especially enjoyed this part : “and gazed for dreams at star and moon
until seduced by gold and pearls
of written manuscripts, his doom
to be librarian, this fool”
Thank you… it is fun to imagine the librarian a young man.
‘from green to grey’ ~ yes, it happens, and quite quickly when one looks back!
looking back at the librarians youth, i think he lived well.
much♡love
Oh that aging seduction of manuscripts. They got me too. 📚☺
killer encapsulating final line, Bjorn ~
Thank you… some age early
I am wondering if this could be the older librarian who you used write of quite often. [My addition, ” . . . to grey (and from young to old).”]
I just finished reading a book with different feathers, “The Midnight Library”, by Matt Haig, c. 2020
..
It is inded the same librarian as a yong man.
Nice prelude to the aged librarian, Bjorn. 🙂
Now we know that the old librarian was like the ordinary youth of his time, interested more in girls than books! I love how you went from grey to green in this one, Björn.
Yes.. he was just a normal teen once… but then he was swallowed by dust.
he ceased to see, he went to school
to read what’s felt and never look
inside to sense, be led astray.
I love your poem of the old librarian who somehow missed the feelings about which he read.
Great poem, I liked the ending lines very much.
Bear with me please, this is a test comment.
Looks good…:-)
The librarian’s bio … I love this, Bjorn. Happy I could comment here, however I couldn’t at Dwight’s. Something going on.
Yes, but the seductive allure of all those books! Who needs chicks with hips literate only in bad romance?
This is lively in tone, yet somber in intent. Reminded me even a bit of Ebenezer Scrooge before his ghostly meetings. Very well done, Bjorn!
Love this backstory!
The circle so many of us have followed. A wonderful addition to your Librarian poems. (K)
I have never seen an ancient library in my life, but I want to!!!
I like how the books entranced him that he stayed there till he became old 😄 That’s exactly what libraries do to me.
He’s back! Better than ever.
“he walked in scent of bloom and girls
and gazed for dreams at star and moon”