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Nourishment

As soon as I heard the wise librarian say
that she asks the young people in her life,
How have you nourished yourself today?
I knew I’d be asking the same question
from now on, as often as I could remember.
I knew the care behind those words
was enough to slow the blood, and pause
the restless feet. I knew the asking itself
was a form of nourishment, like someone
holding out a warm and steaming bowl
of soup to soothe a throat parched from
too much talk about the things that
don’t matter. I think you must have
clear and strong eyes, a clear and strong
heart to be a librarian, to lead people
toward the knowledge they didn’t know
they needed, to help them ask the right
questions, and then answer each one.

by James Crews

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