Bookmarks
I've found money, porn, and shopping lists in books I've purchased at used bookstores over the years. How about you, what have you discovered that was used as a bookmark?
The Believer - Other People’s Bookmarks: Fellow Wanderers of a Forgotten Republic:
"You’re reading, reading a book, and when you’re not reading it, you mark your place. Maybe you simply use the book-jacket flap; if it’s a disposable book or you’re just a heathen, you fold the page corner down. But you usually mark the page with a foreign object, anything from a shred of newspaper to a strip of embossed leather someone bought you at Stonehenge. Often you don’t have much of a choice—because you also have a life outside of that reading, a life of rocket-launched inconvenience and impromptu upheaval, you often have to use whatever’s at hand to hold your space. Indeed, if you have children, then you know interruption like Priam knew Greeks hammering at his door for years and are usually rewarded for your endurance with an array of glitter-and-yarn craft-class bookmarks. But where are they now? You have to put that book down because the dog’s tongue is suddenly stuck to the freezer rack, or the urologist’s nurse has just called you in, or you’re suddenly at your stop and so will end up hustling off the train in a wad of shuffling commuters with only your finger inserted into the book’s crevice."
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In the 6th grade I found a zig zag rolling paper the history book they issued me, that and a garbage pail kid sticker. Fortunately at the time I only knew what the latter was. I asked my mom what thye zig zag was and she told me it was just a piece of tissue paper. My moms a liar.
During the most idealic period of my life, the years spent in West Cork, Ireland, I happened on a three penny London bus ticket tucked away in some little treasure I had picked up. The ticket was circa 1950, so a little piece of history in its own right. Being the old romantic that I am, I wrapped it up as a stocking filler for a wonderful colleen. It was some years later that the ticket and life inspired this short poem.
I loved my love with a love not grown I loved her with a Christmas never known I gave her a gift, from a machine torn A thre’penny ticket from some bus, now gone all worn.
I gave her something, no Christmas formal Just a Christmas, a Christmas normal.
The happiness on her face so young From this old heart made joy did sprung Clatter and chatter from this Cork’s girl’s tongue Reflected all, first Christmas joy, far from wrong.
Embraced it, loved it, held the time in awe “This I’ve had, this one, can’t wish for more”
Time did see us for some few year Rejoice again that time of year Until on bus, to driver said “Dear, My tickets for thre’pence, I’ll get off here”
Northernpoet. 28/12/04.I travel to the used bookstore often (once per week at my local library), and I purchase a couple of books. I've found things, but the greatest time of all was when I found a green piece of paper. It was a fifty dollar note that had been left inside. That was one of the best purchases I had ever taken part in.
" a three penny London bus ticket"— thanks for sharing the story and the poem I found it delightful.
Bookmarks? I've found the following used as bookmarks:
Airline ticket stubs Grocery receipts String College essays Notes Credit cards Sticky notes
I've actually never found anyone else's bookmark. But I did read this Ramones biography where someone had underlined the word "beans" everytime it appeared. That was odd, I guess.
I found a piece of paper with a paragraph explaining the benefits of milk written first in English and then in Spanish in one of my sociology texts.
A severed human finger. ..ok, I just wanted something to add. I've never found any outrageous bookmarks. Sometimes I find a folded homework assignment somebody obviously never got credit for, but that's it.
Oscar Wilde, great poem, and you have a great sense of humor. Do you have a website with more of your poetry?
I purchased a used record (lp... yes, a long long time ago) of Soeur Sourire and there was an old yellowed article which had been clipped out of the newspaper and stuck in the jacket. I read about the story of this interesting nun.
When my mom passed away, I would pick up some of her books and find all sorts of bookmarks and notes in the margin which bring her presense alive for a brief moment.
I once found an Adderal, which had been pretty well smashed between the pages, but not broken open. I keep it in a little box with all the other random garbage that I find.
"Oscar do you have a website" Not at all at all. Jo Ann,you might try this one. I only write what takes my fancy but I had reason to attend a local writers group and produce a set piece with the theme "My favourite music"
Urged by winter’s wrath, the waves first played it. I was just a boy, way back, when birdsong abounded. Sweet calls, not taken for granted, only the magnitude of that ubiquitous choir.
No news, eyes blinkered, head in the sand. No dismal words of this man made utopia, invading the tranquillity of the day.
words dripped from pen, forever capturing the flesh toned vellum. The tinkle of blue bells, as excuisite faeries dance through the forest garden.
Never before heard, the wing song of conspiritual angels. Eyes wide and round, bright stars, shining peals of laughter. The murmur of soft rain, ripples spreading in the infinity of her eyes.
our love.
the crescendo. The rasp, the flare of the single match.
The sigh of two breaths.
30/08/04.
Found a bunch of Rose Petals in an old printing of Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. As unexciting as that is, it's all I've got. However, I'm certainly inspired to get back to my local used book store. Atkinson is brilliant.
Once I found a booger. It was dried between the pages like a preserved flower.
I prefer new books now.
Naah...not really...press cutting with reviews and such. Once bought a book for 10 pence that turned out to be worth £100-150 though :-)