National Libraries Worldwide - events with authors, writing and book illustration - comic poem number 206

A library is full of helpful books 

For academics and practical cooks

A university,  completely free

Shows ancestors' stupidity,

Between the covers, rich and poor

The ups and downs, the peace and war

Monsters, dictators, grand affairs

And how the flappers styled their hair

Something for you, and lots for me

People with whom we don't agree

The worst have gone, all passed away

But comics still give smiles today

Books, like trains, steam off from schism

Duck today's risk of collision

Bring an end to day's division

Escapism, optimism.

-ends-

UK

The library is conveniently placed opposite Baker Street station (underground and overground railway) and Madame Tussauds waxworks, and around the corner from the Sherlock Holmes museum and shop.

The library has two notable statues. One is outside. It depicts a person sitting.

The other statue is inside. It shows a giant book.

When you are travelling, as well as taking a good book to pass the time whilst on your train or plane, or waiting, you might visit a national library.

The Bitish library is the largest in the world. 

The largest in South America is the National Library in Brazil.

Singapore National library frequently has events for authors and readers and members of the public. I have been to book launches, accompanies by exhibitions on the ground floor. I have also attended a two session class on illustrating books and greeting cards for birthdays, weddings and festivals such as Xmas, Diwali and Eid.

Useful Websites

https://www.bl.uk/

https://www.bl.uk/plr

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Happy and Harrowing Harrow, Pinning Down Pinner, Ending with Hatch End. Comic poem 140.

I'm an author and live in Hillview Road 10 a

It's clean and green, I've a small abode 9 a

Tall trees lean, and arch, drop cones on the ground 10 b

Firs, flowers, bushes, busts, birds abound 10 b

Hidden away, back gardens, sure to please 10a

Hide gnarled apple, old pear, giant oak trees 10a

We grow six types of grapes, hoping for wine 10b

We might fill one bottle in ten year's time 10b

We've tame cats and dogs, a wild bush-tailed fox 10a

And an old-fashioned, domed, red letter post box 10a

Stooped friendly neighbours and neighbourhood watch  10b

Loud burglar alarms, high gates and strong locks 10b

I'll start my story with tales of Harrow 10a

Streets cobbled, then bricked, wind steep and narrow 10a

Historic and romantic after dark 10b

Drive up and find it's hard to double park  10b

Hillview Road once viewed Harrow on the hill 10 a

Now skyscrapers - please don't bear them ill will  10a

Neighbours in Harrow are nice as an ice 10b

Kids survived Covid-19, rats, head lice 10b

Pinner has Heath Robinson's museum 10a

His cartoons raise laughs, each time you see 'em 10a

Nelson's daughter sleeps in a nearby grave 10b

Near Tudor pubs whose names campaigners save10b

Walk up Pinner High street, historic, steep 10a (6a 4a)

Eat in Tudor pubs, drive round a few bends 10b

Along Uxbridge Road, flowers planted by friends 10b

And you'll reach Heaven, our litter-freed Hatch End 10b

Eat Chinese, or Jewish style served by Greeks 10a

Indian, Italian, dine out for weeks  10a

Twenty restaurants - when you've done with 'em 10b

At Grimsdyke hear Gilbert and Sullivan 10b

Mrs Beeton was our most famous cook 10a

She wrote a still-in-print cookery book 10a

A World War Two bomb blew her house away 10b

But a plaque clung on the wall yesterday 10b

We've twisted old trees, red clay soil, brown mud 10a 

High street photos show cars towed from a flood 10a

We've charity shops, collection boxes

Garden fences which don't block the foxes

My name's author Angela Lansbury 10a

I hope you'll recall this verse penned by me 10a

And dear Philip, who seems ordinary 10 b

Until he hangs poems on his front tree. 10b

-ends-

10 is the number of syllables. a and b are the rhymes

Written on Friday 20th May 2022 by Angela Lansbury at the request of Philip Barnet who has hung poems on the tree in Hillview Road, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex, England, UK, by the pavement (Americans say sidewalk) to entertain passers-by.