My First Memory (of Librarians)

Our first poem in the EMS Poetry Club is "My First Memory (of Librarians)" by Nikki Giovanni. We talked about this poem in class on Monday, October 4, 2010.

Click here to read Ms. Giovanni's biography on poets.org. You can visit the poem on poets.org by clicking on the title (below).

My First Memory (of Librarians) by Nikki Giovanni 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. From Acolytes by Nikki Giovanni. Copyright © 2007 by Nikki Giovanni. Published by arrangement with William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.