Poem a Month for February

This month's poem by Jennifer Vaudin, Settling down with a good book,  is very apt as it is National Libraries Day on Saturday 7th  February.  Jennifer moved to Matlock in September 2009.  A move which prompted her to read some great books and poems inspired by the county - and to write this lovely poem.

We hope it inspires you- and there is still time to submit a poem for the second half of the year - full details are on the Derbyshire Literature Festival web page.

Settling down with a good book 

In the years and months before
Knowing that hills or sea or both
Were needful,
I researched

A handful of criteria
Library online catalogues one

In the end, the move was a surprise
A shock
A rending

“We’re moving to Derbyshire”
“Then you must read Year of Wonders”
And I do

I read Stephen Booth
I send Stephen Booth to all my reading friends
“This is where I live now,
I can see where the events happened
Lying in my bed,
Doing the school run”

I haunt the library, I test its lending limits
I devour the history of John Smedley
I borrow maps, looking for views and waterfalls,
A succession of Derbyshire Poets Laureate,

And eventually…
Arrive home

Jennifer Vaudin