-- Book that Smells like Time

This is Part II of a series. See Parts I, III, IV, V, & VI. 

Waterstained into wavy pages.

Layers, like the rings of a tree

And dead, usually.

And time.

March 23, 1956, Page 34

“O that this too solid flesh would melt”

Thumb, larger than average, rested

2 inches from the top

Barely touching

Pause.

December 17, 1967, Page 68

“Words. Words. Words.”

Wedged within worn pages

Pencil with an over-used eraser

An unstrategic scribbler, no doubt.

April 2, 1978, Page 83

“But I am pigeon livered and lack gall”

A ticket, red with 2 ridges, hastily ripped

Commissioned officers’ mess open

Camp LeJeune.

June 17, 1994, Page 128.

“My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth”

Smear of jam, quickly swiped off,

Licked off freshly manicured fingers.

2 cm from a jotted phone number.

Pages in danger of tearing

Apart. Fluttering at the seams

At every bend. Fragile.

Strengthened by time.

Hamlet.

                                                                    --  Book that smells like time