Written Snugly in the Cover of the Novel He Gave Her

In used books you might find
(she found it on a birthday so many years ago)
an occasional note
(but it was a)
message
(she remembers it to this day)
written for a man or woman
(a lady. he called her a lady)
who may have loved it
(read it 3 times a week before bed)
depending on the wear of the piece
(wrinkled even more in her mind than the pages)
until finally they cannot,
(she would wish she could)
and so it is 'used.'
(it was her equal)
past tense.
(as she is.)