Anticipation.

The library of my childhood, Hoyt Public, Saginaw, Michigan ...

MY FIRST MEMORY (of LIBRARIANS)

This is my first memory:

A big room with heavy wooden tables that sat on a creaky

    wood floor

A line of green shades—bankers’ lights—down the center

Heavy oak chairs that were too low or maybe I was simply

    too short

         For me to sit in and read

So my first book was always big

In the foyer up four steps a semi-circle desk presided

On the right newspapers draped over what looked like

    a quilt rack

Magazines face out from the wall

The welcoming smile of my librarian

The anticipation in my heart

All those books — another world — just waiting

At my fingertips.

Nikki Giovanni