A Universe of Spines

When I am near the end of a book
I have to sleep in the same room with it.

All the hours I have spent tucked
inside its rib cage have formed
a bond I am not ready to release.

It has been manna for my imagination,
peace in waves of irrational,
my nightlight in insomnia.

Once the last word is read it will
find its place on a bookshelf,
a separate planet in a universe of spines.


©Susie Clevenger 2015

NaPoWriMo ~ Day 13

"When I am near the end of a book
I have to sleep in the same room with it."
                                  Joan Didion

Comments

Sanaa Rizvi said…
This is such a deep and thoughtful poem..!! It has the intensity of fire :D

All the hours I have spent tucked
inside its rib cage have formed
a bond I am not ready to release.

I can completely relate to this point.. once we hold an exciting book in our palms... our soul wont rest until its pages are embedded into our mind..!!

Love,
Sanaa
Sherry Blue Sky said…
I feel the same way. I was loathe to have the hawk book end and am now bereft of it.
Anonymous said…
rib cage &spine. divine.
Debi Swim said…
The ending is wonderful. I feel the same way about my books.
You describe so well that feeling of wanting to hug the book to one's heart, knowing the climax is coming, both eager and reluctant.
Gillena Cox said…
yes!!! i can very well relate

thanks for dropping in to read mine

much love...
Outlawyer said…
Ha. So sweet. I tend not to sleep till it is done. Awful. Not so bad now as I am more selective just because of this problem . Thanks, Susie. K.
colleen said…
I loved that quote best too. Love "my nightlight of insomnia" and the intimate/sensual description of putting the book in the shelf.
Jim said…
I liked it, Susie, and I am smiling, still. :)
It has a flavor of a love affair cooled off. Sleeping to cooling and on the shelf runs the gamut.
..
I hope Didion reads some that you guys wrote, she should love them too.
..
grapeling said…
the last conjures up so much, Susie ~
Hannah said…
This causes an audible sigh...I so relate and I love the imagery in your closing. Wonderful challenge and response...thank you so much, Susie!!
brudberg said…
The only way you can read a book is to be able to cope with an imminent death... wonderful thoughts.
Kerry O'Connor said…
I also love to keep my favourite books close to me.
Anonymous said…
I like the imagery this evokes. Beautiful!