The kid leaves house at corner gets bus a nickel fare The kid climbs stone stairs pushes big oak doors breathes in out sighs. Surrounded in silence until kid makes words speak only to the kid. Librarians put the kid to work stamp stamp dates on cards more cards to file in little drawers new cards on metal rod librarian pulls out and cards settle in place. The kid files away books from rolling cart to shelves lifting to tops of toes stretches to reach high shelves leaves books inch out. Librarian checks make sure the kid gets it right. Here sun melts on oak tables here rain streaks trails on windows here air smells good. The kid breathes deep breathes good breathes safe.
Eve Rifkah
Eve Rifkah was co-founder of Poetry Oasis, Inc. (1998-2012), a non-profit poetry association dedicated to education and promoting local poets. Founder, and editor DINER, a literary magazine with a 7-year run. She is the 2021 recipient of the Stanley Kunitz award.
She has run an ongoing writing workshop for 15 years and teaches workshops and classes at WISE (Worcester Institute for Senior Education). She lives in Worcester, MA with her husband, musician, artist, writer Michael Milligan and their cat.
She is author of Dear Suzanne (WordTech Communications, 2010)
Outcasts the Penikese Leper Hospital 1905-1921 (Little Pear Press, 2010)
Lost in Sight (Silver Bow Publishing, 2021)
chapbook Scar Tissue, (Finishing Line Press, 2017)
chapbook, At the Leprosarium 2003 winner of the Revelever Chapbook Contest
The Library Love Letter 