You’re always giving, my therapist said.
You have to learn how to take. Whenever
you meet a woman, the first thing you do
is to leand her your books. You think she’ll
have to see you again in order to return them.
But what happens is, she doesn’t have the time
to read them, & she’s afraid if she sees you again
you’ll expect her to talk about them, & will
want to lend her even more. So she
cancels the date. You end up losing
a lot of books. You should borrow hers.
~Lending Out Books by Hal Sirowitz from Good Poems.
Why don’t you borrow some library books instead? Thank you to Maggie for the reminder of National Public Library Week. I may be a bit late but I say any day is good day to celebrate the library.
16 Comments
No problem and I LOVE the poem! *rushing out of house to grab Good Poems* 😀
Wow, this poem is on point. I’ll have to check that out!
I LOVE the library. In fact, I have around 8 books waiting for me to read them. I better get on it. And, I did go to the library this week when my kids were driving me insane! A library can be a sanctuary.
I am happy to say that I currently have two checked out from the library.
I love that poem…
That poem is so poignant. Great find.
The only decent library here is in the center of the city, and I hardly ever venture there. Most people shop at malls where I live, which are distinctly lacking in libraries. So it’ll have to be bookshops then …
Great poem. I do love the library and am there at least 1-2 times a week. In fact, between my daughter and I we have 26 items checked out right now, and I’m on the waiting list for another 20.
I’ll have to look up the rest of that poem. Yay for libraries!
I wish I’d meet a man who lent me wonderful books. The men I meet all tend to be scared of how much I read. Where is this man who lends everyone books?!
Maggie – That is a really good collection so hope you find it.
Nik – glad you liked it.
Nancy – I understand finding refuge in a library 🙂
Christine – So how did you like the DPL? It’s been so long since I visited it.
Gavin – Oh that’s not good! Well, do you at least have good bookshops around you? And several?
Tara – I’m usually at the library at least once a week too. I love mine except for that our holds list only let’s you place 10. Boo-hoo.
Stefanie – It’s actually the whole poem.
Max – Ha,ha… I had the hardest time finding a guy who loved to read so I understand your pain 🙂
I thought you might be interested in the New Notions 5 Reading Challenge
Great quote! I’m very stingy about who I lend my children…er, books…out to. I’m too much into keeping them in perfect condition and thus only like-minded individuals have foster-parent privileges.
This is so true. I’ll have to keep this in mind, I have lost a lot of books because I lend them out and the books are never returned, probably for the reasons listed in the poem you posted.
John – Thank you for the link. Oh no, I find it so hard to pass up a reading challenge. I’ll check it out soon.
Carl V. – Me too. I have a hard time lending books, only a few people have that priviledge but one small dog-eared page and their priviledges are revoked I tell you! 🙂
Rowena – Good words to live by right 🙂
I bought two of his poetry books on Amazon yesterday. You were right about book therapy. Amazon should come with some kind of warning label with their two for one deals.
I love that!!! But, it’s not true of me, anymore. I only loan to a few select people that I trust. Even my best friend has fallen off the loaner list because she blew it and gave me back the wrong books!
Nik – That’s so cute. Which books did you get?
Nancy – Ha, ha… I took off one of my friends from my loaner list too. Now if I ever “lend” her a book, it really means I’m giving it to her and don’t expect it back 🙂