beautiful used books
from different places
room needed at a library
for current books and
spaces redesigned
or someone moved and
passed along a few books
for others to discover
not really “discarded”
another way to bless
and share
and books
continue their journey
today
new space
on a few shelves
donated books
reading journals
new generation of poets
since I began
POEMS FROM OOSTBURG, WISCONSIN – 2021
older now
used books settle
in their new home
by Ellen Grace Olinger
All the Way Home: Aging in Haiku (2019)
Edited by Robert Epstein
Middle Island Press
West Union, WV
Pictures are from wpclipart, selected for this post.
L ove of literature
I nspires countless
B eautiful hours of
R eading many
A uthors, and sometimes
R ereading beloved books
Y early
Ellen Grace Olinger
WestWard Quarterly, The Magazine of Family Reading
Fall 2018
We have bought used books from libraries over the years. I have three novels by Jan Karon from our Oostburg Public Library “A Little Library Growing Everyday.”
Karl took the photos at the Oostburg library in July 2018 and 2019.
Posts in this new series at Poems From Psalms And Nature:
Poetry Book by Madeleine L’Engle
Thank you
a small card
in a devotional book
from a thrift store
words of encouragement
from one person to another
I keep the card with the book
and its history today
and tomorrow
Ellen Grace Olinger – from my archives
wpclipart
sunny morning
with no wind
the quiet image
of orange daylilies
in bloom
early morning
hosta flowers grow
above the windowsill
Saturday morning
so happy with the plants
we bought on sale
early Sunday
raindrops in some light
on evergreen branches
one yellow leaf
on the birch tree
late July
Creative Note: My poems were published first at Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin. I am writing short poems to describe moments as they happen. Later I may see a sequence and then reprint in one post.
Peony – July 14, 2019
Photo by Karl
Daylily – July 18, 2019
Photo by Karl
Poems in this post are by Ellen Grace Olinger, 2019.
Creative Note: I am reading a used book I bought from Amazon: Sightseers into Pilgrims, A Sampler of Contemporary Christian Poets. Edited, and with an Introduction by Luci Shaw. Copyright 1973 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. Excellent poems, and I have also read Luci Shaw’s books of poetry and memoirs for many years. I enjoy both new and used books, and also look for discards from libraries when I order. I like seeing where the book was and the library information. A book from a thrift store may include a gift note. How wonderful to consider the journey of a book!
early hours
of quiet and poetry
gardens overflow
and if some winter
my mind forgets
my heart will know
*
We’ve had a lot of rain.
Yesterday I went to Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I had not been there for a time. They had a large selection of used books for sale. I bought two poetry books, for less than one dollar. Lilacs were in bloom along the roads.
Then I stopped at Arby’s in Kohler. A young person held the door for me, and people were so kind. I am older now. I enjoyed a salad, and brought a cup of coffee home.
*
R ose clouds at sunrise, and the day
O pens to songs, silence, and new
S trength, with hope
E verlasting
*
Our pink peonies will bloom soon. My parents had red, white, and pink peonies in their yard.
Poems From Psalms And Nature 