May 2021: Big Voices of the Secret Poet's Society - Jo Skinner
The first time was an accident. Martin was standing in the queue behind eccentric Mrs Schultz waiting to borrow his weekly stash of books. Nina was at the desk today, Martin’s favourite librarian.
‘Morning Mrs Schultz. Did you enjoy the new Jane Harper?’
Nina was like that. Remembered everyone’s name, the sort of books they read.
‘Oh yes.’ Then Mrs Schultz whispered, ‘Mr Schultz wrote me a poem and slipped it between the pages.’
We all knew Mr Schultz died years ago. Nina didn’t miss a beat. ‘How lovely.’
‘It was. I framed it, hung it in my kitchen where I can see it every day.’
She started to recite, ignored the throat clearing and shuffling behind her. Martin nearly dropped his stash. He had used his poem as a bookmark, forgotten to retrieve it. He found himself at the front of the line.
‘Morning Martin. An eclectic selection today.’
One year, three weeks and two days after Elspeth died. Martin wondered if it would ever get easier. The day he woke up and had trouble remembering which of her cheeks dimpled, he knew he needed some way to record every nuance, every freckle, every single thing he loved about her. That is when the poems started. One every day. To help him remember, to help him forget.
The following week, he slipped verses between the pages of several books, watched when someone picked one up and decided to borrow it. It gave him a little thrill to imagine his words, his voice going out into the world. He decided to become more strategic, noticed things about the borrowers, what they enjoyed. He listened when they told Nina their own stories of love, heartbreak or grief and targeted them. He slipped carefully selected poems into their books when they weren’t looking.
Around three years after he lost Elspeth, Martin picked up the local paper and read the front page story.
‘Secret Poets Society at Local Library.’
Come along to hear the big voices of the secret poets operating undercover at Eastend Library.
They quietly slip their words about tenderness and loss between the pages of books. Borrowers come here from all over the city hoping to strike it lucky and find a hidden verse. The library is secretive claiming to have no knowledge of who the poets might be. Poignant and filled with longing their voices resonate with all of us for humans love to love.
A Wine and Verse evening will be held on the lawns outside the library on Friday evening. Those fortunate enough to be recipients of a secret poem are invited to come along and share.
All are welcome. Whether in the first flush of passion, bitter aftermath of heartbreak or alone and hopeful, these verses will lift your heart to higher places.
Martin came late, sat at the edge of things. Nina saw him, winked and raised her glass.
June’s Right Left Write competition is open now - theme: Anniversary. Enter at www.queenslandwriters.org.au/competitions.
Right Left Write’s May prompt was Big Voices.