Verses Between the Shelves: Where poetry lingers like dust on old spines

There are places in the world where silence speaks — where dust motes shimmer in the sun slanting through high windows, and a thousand forgotten voices wait quietly on the shelves.

These are bookstores, libraries, and bookshops — spaces of stillness, resistance, longing, and discovery.

In an age of scrolling and swiping, the quiet act of pulling a book from a shelf feels almost revolutionary. Bookstores — once bustling with seekers — now contend with algorithmic distractions and digital noise. And yet, they endure. Like poetry, they remain — subtle, essential, quietly urgent.

This poetry gathering honors that slow beauty. The poems read here won’t compete with the world’s noise — they will hum softly, like memories shelved in a library no one owns but everyone enters.

"Verses Between the Shelves" is a poetry gathering that invites readers, writers, wanderers, and listeners to step into this hush — and celebrate the emotional landscapes tucked between covers and catalog cards.

## In the Library by Charles Simic

There’s a book called
A Dictionary of Angels.
No one had opened it in fifty years,
I know, because when I did,
The covers creaked, the pages
Crumbled. There I discovered
The angels were once as plentiful
As species of flies.
The sky at dusk
Used to be thick with them.
You had to wave both arms
Just to keep them away.
Now the sun is shining
Through the tall windows.
The library is a quiet place.
Angels and gods huddled
In dark unopened books.
The great secret lies
On some shelf Miss Jones
Passes every day on her rounds.
She’s very tall, so she keeps
Her head tipped as if listening.
The books are whispering.
I hear nothing, but she does.

More poems here - https://transactionswithbeauty.com/home/5poemsaboutlibraries

Whether you come to listen, share, or write, your presence adds to the rich tapestry of voices that make this gathering a memorable and inspiring experience.

You're encouraged to bring a poem that speaks to you – whether it's one you've written or one that you admire. We invite you to bring any letters, poetry, and literature from any worldwide language, including their translations and interpretations.

We will translate poems from the original language into English as best as possible with the group's help. We go with the flow of conversations beyond the theme during our gathering.

Please find more about us here - Kaavya Connections Website - https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/.

Please also join the mailing list for our upcoming events: https://www.kaavyaconnections.com/mailing-list/.

If you would like to volunteer to help organize the monthly gatherings and shows in any way, please email contact@kaavyaconnections.com.

Bring a friend, a poetic story to tell, or come to listen and enjoy.

Above all, bring your creative self.
Kaavya Connections