The British Library
This photo depicts Mahatma Gandhi after peace talks during the Partition of 1947. [Photo 134/1 (32)] © The British Library
Mind over Matter
“... the value of education is among the greatest of all human values…”
– Virginia Woolf, Three Guineas
inspired by the British Library.
Incredibly meticulous and inherently organized, like a well oiled machine dedicated towards holding with its thousand hands,
the memories of the world, with characters and letters that seem to lift of pages, circle around your head, and burn them into your eyes–
to see what you see now is nothing but true reality– the reality They saw, as they built the world from on their hands and knees,
like the reality You will see, when you do the same, just as they had done with their blood, sweat, and especially tears.
Aaron Asparin
Our program's visit to the British Library was a sight to behold-- a tour guide throughout the main rooms of the library was given during its typical hours, along with several historical facts and instructions on how meticulous the system for calling and acquiring specific historical documents was, were given. Walking through the halls of the great British Library, and then consequently visiting their several reading rooms gave inspiration to this poem. This poem is crafted from the experience I had at the British Library, where I sat there and thought of how sitting there, observing wonderfully preserved documents, was simply a peek into the expansive reality that was seen by the creators of all of the manuscripts, papers, art pieces, etc. In specific, this poem was written in inspiration of the photograph I had found of Mahatma Gandhi after his peace talks in regards to the Partition of 1947. These amazing pieces-- the foundations of the world we know now-- were crafted from their blood, sweat, and taken from them to be housed in a place outside of their homes-- hence the tears.