Charles Simic Quote
In the Libraryfor OctavioThere's a book calledA Dictionary of Angels.No one has opened it in fifty years,I know, because when I did,The covers creaked, the pagesCrumbled. There I discoveredThe angels were once as plentifulAs species of flies.The sky at duskUsed to be thick with them.You had to wave both armsJust to keep them away.Now the sun is shiningThrough the tall windows.The library is a quiet place.Angels and gods huddledIn dark unopened books.The great secret liesOn some shelf Miss JonesPasses every day on her rounds.She's very tall, so she keepsHer head tipped as if listening.
Charles Simic
In the Libraryfor OctavioThere's a book calledA Dictionary of Angels.No one has opened it in fifty years,I know, because when I did,The covers creaked, the pagesCrumbled. There I discoveredThe angels were once as plentifulAs species of flies.The sky at duskUsed to be thick with them.You had to wave both armsJust to keep them away.Now the sun is shiningThrough the tall windows.The library is a quiet place.Angels and gods huddledIn dark unopened books.The great secret liesOn some shelf Miss JonesPasses every day on her rounds.She's very tall, so she keepsHer head tipped as if listening.