The Tale of the Timid Engineer and Two Libraries
THE TALE OF THE TIMID
ENGINEER
AND TWO LIBRARIES
in August,2011
our story starts, you’ll all be pleased to learn
When timid engineer at library arrives carrying books he must return
But what is this?
Outside the library, between the flowerbeds, instead of no-one to behold,
a group of people stands, nay a delegation , what story’s to be told?
“They plan to close the library!” they say, “outrageous!” he retorts!
Steady on, timid engineer, a little
strong from you, more thought!
“Will
you sign petition?” a fair lady asks “of course” he says
and after signing, enters in, his books returned on time.
Be honest, timid engineer, you rarely
come here now
it’s just by chance you’re here, and you certainly want no row!
Emerging again to sunshine, fair lady speaks once more
“if we cannot save the library, are you prepared to do yet more?”
“A volunteer library may emerge, are you interested to help” she asks
“ it’s time to stand up and do something, yes put my name down” he gasps
Dear oh dear timid engineer, what’s going
on – I fear you may be drunk
and timid engineer goes home, what has he done –he’s sunk!
and Summer turns to Autumn, then Winter follows too
then news emerges library closing – this’ll be his Waterloo!
A
meeting is announced, library futures to discuss
Will timid engineer go, maybe yes, maybe no, yes – he’s on the bus!
Wow, a council chamber full of people, there’s no one he knows here
Wrong, fair lady’s here, he sits at back, next couple, who show no fear
It’s all explained, with what’s required, they need three hours a week!
Wrong again, there’s another he knows, and he’s now on his feet
He’s from the church, and knowledgeably, he challenges the facts
The chairman says, no time to waste, now is time for acts
“Either volunteer now, or chance for library will be gone forever”
The man longside asks good questions, he clearly is quite clever
Brave people step forward, but one, of course, shows no endeavour
Mumbling apologetically, timid engineer tells fair lady “three hours a week’s
too much”
Smiling sweetly, she says “OK” – he runs away – he’s clearly losing touch!
Month’s
pass, “what’s happening” our timid engineer must know
The local paper even asks him what he thinks, then lo
behold, a council office, called Waltham Forest Direct
vacated a former ice cream shop last August, for library maybe perfect?
Do
I try again to get involved? Our timid engineer wonders
Then sees notice bout planning meeting Tuesday – he ponders!
Up and down outside he wanders, does he dare go in?
There’s lots of people there inside - go on and don’t be chicken!
He pushes open door, then hits a plate glass wall
“Slide it to the side” a voice cries out “don’t push it off its hinges!”
they’re all looking at me, timid
engineer now cringes
Its man who asked the clever questions
“You’ll find this boring, please come back on Saturday” he suggests
“There’s a working party then, I think that will be best”
On
Saturday he meets them all, they’re friendly and so keen
These people, many ladies, they are inspirational
They work so hard, were moving shelves, and books, and racks, its
perspirational!
We’re
in each Saturday, then learn, we’re opening in April
So much to do, it’s exciting, but by now we’re very capable
It’s opening day, and library’s full, with dignitaries from near and far
they’re welcomed in with bugle call, that’s really quite bizarre!
Our MP speaks, he was the secretary of state for work and pensions
then Mayor of Waltham Forest, with very best intentions
leads us all outside, and declares the library open!
a lunchtime lull, then excitement builds
again, we peer
for its London Mayor election time and battle bus is here
London’s Mayor appears, with speech and the following refrain
“your library’s been opened once, I’ll declare it open once again!”
We’re
up and running, Saturdays, and all seems well, then:
catastrophe for Timid Engineer!
On Mayor’s election day he’s taken rather ill.
He cannot get to library, his tasks there to fulfil ~
for weeks, and knows no one to contact. They’ll think he’s gone for ever.
He struggles there one Saturday, but library’s closed, not clever
An incident nearby has thwarted best endeavour
Then emails council lady, who tells team he’ll return
When back in summer, nice lady, sat longside, in December
wife of man asking clever questions, he
can now remember
becomes his mentor
“do you want to train as shift leader?” she gently now asks
“that’s not for me” he responds, timid to the last!
But duty calls, and slowly he gains confidence, when pressed
and
becomes shift leader, of sorts, in name at least I guess.
Fast forward, several years, there’s now many volunteers and lots of days we
open.
and many events of every kind take place,
not just token.
There’s knitting, and language classes, and games, and help with English.
and many helped to work, learned IT skills, and anything else you wish!
The story continues – what happens next we do not know for sure
But, if this crazy (sort of) poem ever sees the light of
day
It is likely that the poetry reading group
is up and underway!
Richard Ashen June
2017
Dedicated to the brave and loyal group of volunteers past and present without which South Chingford Community Library would not exist at all
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