Belinda Brooks Loved Library Books

　　Belinda Brooks loved library books,

　　She hoarded them all for herself.

　　She'd check them out to spread them about

　　or straighten them up on a shelf.

　　She boxed her books in crannies and nooks.

　　She filled every crevice and crack.

　　She stuffed her home with textbook and tome

　　but never would take any back.

　　Her dresser drawer held novels galore.

　　She kept them in cases and cans,

　　with lots and lots in packets and pots,

　　and packages, parcels and pans.

　　She cleaned and wiped the volumes she swiped,

　　and tenderly treasured each book.

　　She'd sit for days and lovingly gaze

　　at all the editions she took.

　　In bowls and bins and baskets and tins,

　　in canisters, cartons and crates,

　　so poor Miss Brooks, with all of those books,

　　was wanted in fifty-two states.

　　For she was fined, but always declined

　　to pay or surrender the books.

　　And so, in shame, Belinda became

　　the biggest of library crooks.

　　When she got nailed, Belinda was jailed

　　and sentenced to years for her deed,

　　so now, with time for pay for her crime,

　　she's finally learning to read.

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