Venturing to check on my own poetry collection at the local library, I happened upon another local poet’s collection. Checking it out, I was immersed in a short narrative poetry experience that reminded me of one of my favorite childhood books that became a movie The NeverEnding Story. 

James W. A. writes of the freedom from rules and counted meter with the poet’s choice of free verse and also shares how that freedom then trickles down to the reader who can then interpret the poem as they see fit even if it differs from the way the poet intended it.

In The Library is a dark poetry narrative that utilizes a main character who’s dialog throughout the book is expressed through poetic stanza and verse, all while utilizing the image of a library to be similar to a graveyard where the main character is asked to read or “remember” 11 different traumatic events.

The library then becomes like the post-traumatic brain and the poetry is the inner workings of coming to terms with said trauma.

It is a different take on poetry but it is unique in it’s own light, and worth a read.

I found it to be hopeful to me as a free verse poet, and I am grateful that on a trip to the library I happened upon In The Library.