My First Memory (of librarians)

This is my first memory:
A big room with heavy wooden tables that sat on a creaky
     wood floor
A line of green shades—bankers’ lights—down the center
Heavy oak chairs that were too low or maybe I was simply
     too short
          For me to sit in and read
So my first book was always big

In the foyer up four steps a semi-circle desk presided
To the left side the card catalogue
On the right newspapers draped over what looked like
     a quilt rack
Magazines face out from the wall

The welcoming smile of my librarian
The anticipation in my heart
All those books — another world — just waiting
At my fingertips.

Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni’s Wonderful Poems Celebrating Libraries and Librarians – Brain Pickings

Thanks to Jan Godwin, Clinical Librarian at York Teaching Hospital, for submitting this poem to CultureClub.Social and for all the welcoming smiles 🙂

Do you have a favourite poem you’d like to share? Email the Arts Team art@york.nhs.uk