The borders of this book

puckered

corners

curled upward

tiny claws,

as if wet overnight

dry

by morning

 

These edges

tell the tale

of years

paper fingers

forge

the truth

of love

sacrifice

commitment

 

Time smells like

musk

dust –

saturation

widens the binding

and the story

is a blossom

petals unfurl

 

We save these

upon our shelves

like trophies

displayed

in a row

vertical

autobiographies,

soldiers,

protecting what

was

 

I see you

next to the coveted first editions of

Catcher in the Rye

Henderson the Rain King

The Princess Bride –

and I will save you until the end

because only then

are the chapters complete.

 

 

 

 

 

We all try to trick

the tide-

challenge the water’s connection

to the sun.

 

I kept swimming because it felt so good

to separate myself

from the sand,

as the sun set

I continued on.

 

The silvery stronghold

abreast

my every stroke,

and I was sure

I would not sink.

 

The golden crescent

threatening to dip below –

denial such a dangerous diva –

I was safe.

 

buoyant quickly turned to

fingers and toes

immersed within the earth,

and I knew I would never escape

the emptiness

 

without you.