Fealty

 

Note before reading:

Endpapers  bookmaking

After Chinese had invented paper, it was used in Samarqand in 750 A.D. In Baghdad, paper started to be produced in sufficient volume in10^th century A.D

The paints used in all decorations were taken from various mineral pigments like minium (red lead), vermilion, yellow ocher, orpiment, white plaster, white lead, copper verdigris, green marble powder, lapis lazuli powder and the most expensive of them all the true lapis lazuli.

 

 

Fealty 

 

Don’t smile at me like that Milan

I have ridden your white boar over your cobbled streets

For the Peace and Truce of God

I have given you war

And remained its neutral sister

Just so you could continue your absurd beautification

As a pillow book for generations

Decorated at either end with papers of stretched skin

Claiming such cathartic hope and inspiration

That you guarantee that blood will run your rivers red

You say you are the promise of unity

But these are the promises of a librarian

Seeking to establish an incunabulum

A tyrant of printed word and dusty vellum

Your soul swears to me its fealty

And yes, I shall eat it whole