Tuesday, 12 September 2023

that old book

 that old book



smell the every times of paper

that has yellowed long in a window’s sun

that has down the years held

what could not be put down 

by readers now long dead and down 


fireside smoke and the suns pour out

as dry as dusted time as

must from the dark corners of long forgot

where a book will almost certainly rot


but here is it within your hands

spilling out of all its angst 

narrowing your eyes

wrinkling your nose

stirring the motes upon the golden air

on sunbeams from long ago


their smiles spill out

their dried tears airing sublimate

as the stirring of your thoughts

back  and back    and back

your eyes fall cushion-ward

a breath sighs aloud

oh

to be interred within a book

to wear a friable yellow shroud

look   see

the the letters tumble out

or even a letter dedicated to a love

long past that passionate kiss


time has stopped

this you feel that 

time has stopped


close the book upon the shelf

draw the curtains once again

let it all settle back to sleep

for an era is a long long time


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