Quiet – A Library Poem by Fleassy Malay
Local artist and poet Fleassy Malay spent time at Watsonia Library during Library and Information Week, gathering the diversity of learning experiences at YPRL on a typical day.
This resulted in an art installation on the windows of the library and this poem, a response to the journey and process of the project.
Quiet - A Library Poem
by Fleassy Malay:
Quiet
Except for the sound
Of feet shuffling on carpet
Quiet
Except for the gentle flop
Of a page turning
Quiet
Except for the door
That keeps opening
Quiet
Except for the sound
Of 30 tiny mouths
Learning to get themselves around
The twinkle twinkle sing-along song
The building bricks of childhood
The sound Of a billion neurons firing
The cack cack cack
Of the knitters laughing
Because
Why not?
We're here aren't we?
Quiet
Except for the click click
Tap tap
Forms filled
Papers signed
Learned to vote
Learned to pay
Learned to register
Found a way!
The gentle sigh
Of peace of mind.
Quiet
Except for the heavy clonk
Of a book falling
Into the returns bin
“Parenting the neurodiverse brain”
Clonk
“Mermaids have tails too!”
Clonk
“Songlines and stories”
Clonk
“A bitter romance”
Clonk
“An unsolved crime”
Clonk
“The truth about dogs”
Clonk
“Photography for beginners”
Clonk
Clonk
Clonk
Quiet
Except for the sound
Of hot water pouring
Tea brewing
A moment of warmth out of the cold
Old bones sigh
Young lungs cry
Another page turns and
Silence is made when mouths close
And minds open.
I came here to sit
Read
Colour
Cry
I came here to be alone
To be with you
To be anywhere
other than home
I came here for peace.
Peace of mind
Piece of community
Piece together the puzzle
Peace and quiet
To gather
To listen
To learn
To grow
Quiet
Except for the subtle sound
Of world's Becoming