Duty of Possession

You received a book. 

The cover was beautifully crafted

though already showing

signs that it had been

handed around:

worn, a bit

torn.

You were so grateful, so

gracious

and you held the book

to your chest. 

The book was duly displayed

and all who passed through

the hall were directed

to gaze upon

the book. 

What a fortune to

receive this book. 

Indeed. 

You even opened

the book

once

and knew the entire

contents of page

38

Off by

heart. 

You liked that

page and

liked the way

people respected you

because you knew

what it was about. 

All of it. 

On a

day,

a day of

sunshine and lemonade

and kids in the yard,

you

went to consult the

book,

but

it wasn’t where you left

it. 

It wasn’t

on the bookshelf and

it wasn’t on the coffee

table.  It wasn’t in the hall

way nor in your closet. 

You were angry. 

Someone must have

stolen it. 

After a while

you realised you

hadn’t missed the book

in a while. 

You knew

the contents of page

38

off-by-heart

anyway

and

could recall it

when needed. 

Who needed the book

now? 

Indeed.

Reviews

[James William Dyer]

This is one of the best poems you've written in my opinion. It speaks realism, and your Voice is solid in this one. Loved it, read it four times.

[captain]

i really like the shape, creative and witty. and i agree in the last line indeed.@_@

[Lushan]

:)