Last weekend I went to an estate sale and bought this bookcase for $10. What a deal, right? I didn’t even think twice. It clearly needed a little TLC, and as soon as I got it home, I got to work. As I was sanding, I realized a bookcase was the perfect topic for this month’s ditty challenge from Elizabeth Steinglass over at Michelle Barnes’s blog. My new bookcase needs another coat of paint before it will be ready to follow these instructions, but I know it will carry them out beautifully.
Instructions for a Bookcase
Stand up straight.
Keep your shelves long and strong;
Don’t let them sag!
Hold each book in a gentle hug,
Protect covers from fading,
Prevent dust from settling on pages,
Preserve words, ideas, stories.
Welcome every reader;
Generously share your treasures.
© Catherine Flynn, 2019
Please be sure to visit Dani Burtsfield at Doing the Work that Matters for the Poetry Friday Roundup.
Reading to the Core 
You’re right! This is perfect….I love how the book case has been transformed with your TLC. I did giggle a bit at “don’t sag” (some us can’t help it–lol!). But, hold each book in a gentle hug is lovely. Well done.
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Your bookcase looks pretty darn spiffy! It’s hard to pick a line that grabs me most, but I do love your ending.
Welcome every reader;
Generously share your treasures.
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I love, “Hold each book in a gentle hug.” Looks like you will get your money’s worth with this bookcase. Wonderful find!
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It makes me smile to thing about all the new treasures your new book case will enjoy holding and hugging in the days to come. And all the happy readers too! 🙂 Wonderful job with your instruction poem, Catherine. Thank you for posting it today!
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I love that, Catherine! Especially Hold each book in a gentle hug. :>)
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Beautiful job refinishing the bookcase – such a great find. Love your poem, the gentle hug part is my favorite too. 🙂
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Oh I love the idea of a bookshelf holding books with a gentle hug! For 10 bucks you got a bookshelf and inspiration–that really is a steal!
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I’m looking at all of our bookcases a little differently now! They are so patient. So over-stuffed. Holders of so much knowledge, story, emotion, and personal (reading/life) history…
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Aww–that’s a sweet one. Like others, I like your exhortation to stay strong:
Keep your shelves long and strong;
Don’t let them sag!
Hold each book in a gentle hug,
It does take strength to hold up all that information, all those stories. And nice refinishing work–a job I would never undertake!
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Nice work, you DIY ninja! The challenge you mentioned sounds interesting – I will have to check it out.
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What a wonderful transformation of your bookcase Catherine, and great instructions via your poem!
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