Summary

The speaker offers a warning to the reader about libraries and librarians. They feel that the smiles and welcome librarians offer is dishonest, hiding the real truth of these places. The speaker expresses cautions over some of the figures that can be found in a library, including “monsters […] heathens / and heretics” (Lines 5, 6-7). In addition to the nefarious creatures within, these books also contain contentious knowledge that can never be unlearnt. The books can be seductive in their own novel, sensational way, just waiting to indoctrinate unwitting readers. The speaker believes that reading changes you, and the reader should be sure of their intentions before proceeding.

Analysis

This poem opens with its title, which is repeated several times throughout the poem. “If librarians were honest” is an establishing subordinate clause which introduces the reader to the speaker’s objective: to reveal the truth. The...