"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
-Michelangelo
Our neighbourhood library is an antiquated, colossal block of granite brimming with printed words, yet for Spouse and I, one rather notable attraction is not even made of paper.
Habitually we push through the doors of the Romanesque-styled structure, pass under grand arches and rainbow-stained glass, scale the vast stone staircase and pause on the landing to peer out the window, where we observe an elephant. After ensuring the fellow is still out there we continue, satisfied, up the steps and on with our exploration of unread pages.
So far as I know, we are the only individuals aware of the animal's presence. To the eye of other patrons and passers-by there sits the remains of a cannon from a bygone era. They gaze and do not see the rear end of a great lumbering elephant. They find a disused battle weapon of tarnished metal.
One can find little fault with their resourceful wanderings. Libraries are, after all, for the pursuit of creative endeavour and for kindling the imagination.
5 comments:
oh goodness--sadly, I looked at the picture and saw the back of a cannon but I am going to start looking for the unusual in the expected. I love the image of you and spouse bounding up the stairs to check on the elephant before delving into your books. Two peas in a pod.
And this just after the story of the eye exam. You did not comment on the condition of Spouse's eyesight. If there is a trunk on the other end you could be right. Pappy
Beth, we always look at the elephant. It's a nice precursor to the books and things. I love going there.
I saw an elephant and that's the end of it for me, I couldn't see a cannon if I tried ;)
Texican, that's very odd, indeed. Spouse actually went for an eye check up on Friday, a rather intensive one that rendered him unable to work the rest of the day, or even keep his eyes open, and for one moment in reading your comment I thought that's what you were referring to.
But I hadn't told about it. How strange.
Anyhow, the result is that there is nothing wrong with Spouse's eyesight ;) Even if there is no trunk, I could still be right- maybe some vandal broke it off. Or, then again, Beth might be right and it might be a cannon.
The sign of a creative mind .... I love repurposing objects.
BTW - love your elephant. Barb
Barb, he was covered in snow today, poor fellow ;)
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