Open Mic: Ode to Books by Eliah Reed

Ode to Books

At the end of the day

When I’m tired and worn

You wait for me.

When I’ve had a bad day

And I’ve sobbed my eyes dry

You wait for me.

You don’t care what mood I’m in when I open the cover.

You don’t mind that I smell the pages.

You wait for me.

You let me put my fingerprints across the lines.

You don’t care when I rip them.

You wait for me.

My tears fall on your words.

My anger creases your paper.

You wait for me.

I forget you for months.

I leave you on a shelf.

You wait for me.

And when I need you most

You’re there.

Waiting for me.

Footnote: Psst, fellow TPSers—even if you don’t read much now, it’s awesome and can bring so much joy. Here are some of my favorites, if you want to check them out. The Green Ember, by S.D. Smith. Spirit Animals, by various. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan. Don’t be afraid to branch out, try new genres, and explore! Even if people say certain books are too young for you, I think that’s silly. No one can be too old for any book—but be a little careful when reading YA/Teen novels. Bibliophiles and bookworms forever!

Meet the Poet:

What is your name?

Eliah Canaan Reed, E to my family.

How old are you?

I’m sixteen years old.

How long have you been at TPS/What’s your favorite class?

I’ve been at TPS for three years, and this one is my last. My only classes with TPS have been math and I don’t have a favorite because all of my teachers are awesome! Shoutout to Mrs. G, Mr. M, and Mrs. R—thank you for teaching me!

Where do you live? 

I live in India, in the foothills of the Himalayas, home to the mighty Mt. Everest! (I can’t see it from my house, though—it’s about 600 miles too far away.)

What is an interesting fact about you?

I learned to read at a very young age, and when I was 12-13, in the span of two years, I read 800+ books (this can be verified by my library borrowing history).

Why did you want to write this piece? What’s the inspiration?

When lockdown happened, my family and I got stuck in our house for 3 months, and life felt crazy messed up. Now that I’m a junior in high school, my future is looming and starting to feel a little uncertain. My books have been my friends and confidantes for years, and I wanted to share a little bit of the comfort they’ve given me—and continue to give me.

Photo Credit: Canva