Books
In Sunday’s paper, I had a story about an upcoming estate sale for U.S. Sen. George McGovern’s artifacts.
There will be books — lots of books — at the sale.
A friend of mine, who lives in Pipestone, Minn., emailed me this poem she had written that ties in nicely with the story.
BOOKS
If you’ve ever wondered what’s in a man’s head,
Just take a good look at the books by his bed.
You can tell in a moment if his thoughts are noble,
And if his concerns are for everything global.
If you’d ask, he could find Pakistan on a map
And explain why the maple has sugary sap.
He’s read about Hindus, and monarchs long dead,
And learns a new language from that book by his bed.
Check, too, those papers that lie on his floor.
He may not be neat, but he’s never a bore.
When he dies, and you wonder what he had on his mind,
Just look at the books that he left behind.
Colleen Sundvold Hofelman
