The pages turn you.

books, poetry, , , ,

YOU TURN THE PAGE

André Derain

“Whenever I see someone reading a book . . . I feel civilization has become a little safer.” Matt Haig, How to Stop Time

You turn the page because you have to know—
because the youthful wizard is in trouble,
because the wife’s about to pack and go,
because you just like living in this bubble
of graceful prose and other people’s ills
and joys, because turning the pages makes
you see things from a new perspective, fills
your mind with more than you, and maybe breaks
your heart or your routine, or breaks apart
what’s rusted shut, or else draws a connection
where you thought there was none. And once you start,
the pages lead you to the intersection
of art and life and your own empathy;
the pages turn you toward humanity.

-Jean L. Kreiling

Jean Kreiling expresses so many of the reasons that we love to read — Did she leave anything out? I do like very much — often, but not constantly! — living in this bubble of graceful prose, even when the bubble doesn’t contain other peoples’ ills and joys. I hope my reading is doing all the positive things the poet sees. I read this poem Sunday afternoon to eleven fellow readers, when our parish women’s book group met on my patio and enjoyed our usual lively discussion of such pleasures. I’m also keeping it tucked in my purse to share with any friend or stranger I might meet, anytime our conversation turns to our latest favorite books.

Peter Kauflin, Once Upon a Time

13 thoughts on “The pages turn you.”

  1. I have thoroughly enjoyed this. There are times when it is difficult to not turn the page or to begin the next chapter, even though there are other things demanding my attention! The Peter Kauflin picture is lovely and very apt.

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  3. Immediately previous to reading this poem, I read a passage in a book by Bishop Eric Varden in which he talks about how Christ’s command to forgive seventy times seven “cancelled a curse” imposed by Lamech when he said, “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” A connection which I had never encountered before.

    One thing I love about reading is just going along and suddenly coming across little revelations like this. Like falling into some kind of well of living water.

    AMDG

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    2. And reading and going along reading your comments, there’s always a good chance of coming across a pleasant surprise. I hadn’t thought of that connection when reading either of those Bible passages. A “well of living water” is a true picture of how it feels, thrilling, to find more and more ways that our salvation history is everywhere on display, but not just that — something to drink, or swim in. Glory to God. Thank you, Janet!!

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      1. If you aren’t familiar with Bishop Eric Varden, I would like to suggest you read “The Shattering of Loneliness.” It’s less like a well, but more like, “rolling as a might ocean in its fullness over me.” He also has an amazing podcast on the Desert Fathers.

        AMDG

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