I would walk like an innocent into a terrible history ...

A man wearing ink stained tweed turned the pages of a fragile volume - 

A low hanging chandelier illuminated reefs of obscure proceedings - 

I climbed a wrought iron spiral staircase to look down upon the murmuring antiquarians - 

I felt as though I were a character in a short story by M R James - 

I would spend darkening afternoons here - 

I would sit at the desk by the stilled grandfather clock - 

I might hear a hissing whisper high amongst the bookstacks - 

I would walk like an innocent into a terrible history - 

12.30

Tuesday 19 December 2017

Dorset County Museum Library 

Dortchester