LIBRARY Poem by Sigitas Parulskis

suddenly the shelves opened and a boy came in . . .
Kornelijus P.
I was sitting in the library reading room, the great hall
by a huge table, absolutely alone, my
skull's goblet brimming
with the wine of information aged a hundred years
my head spun from it, as did
the long shadows
falling from the chairs'
backrests

Later, in the evening, a man I'd never
seen before, dressed in black, approached me
he said he was a salesman, burring a little,
the "r" sounds a jumping cog in his throat

He offered me a watch, made in 1908, Sir, he said
you won't regret it,
"Solo" gilded pocket watches with chain -
the very best
this year's pick, every one of your minutes will be solid
gold, even to me Sir, saying these words the man's voice
took on a pathetic tone - I will have something
to remember
when in 1943, me, an aged
father of three, naked, without even
a little pocket
for a pocket watch, they'll herd me
into the gas chamber