Press
wooden frame puts pressure to the pages
ten by twenty
space to hold an age
rusted screws interlace with creaks and bolting
careful now as you view the past within
plain card cover stained over at the edges
wood chip flecks in homemade paper leaves
warped and wrinkled paired with smooth taut pieces
ghost of perfume ripples softly in surprise
compelled flora
haunt the compressed places
tiny daisies
flashy rose
half-full book speaks of an interruption
laid aside
and so it goes
look
look here
you see how vivid this one?
look
look there
the faded few cling on
creams and beige and browns call for attention
pinks and reds flash fair for praise
points of life frozen for future viewing
fall to pieces now it’s here
flecks of yellow white and dusky purple
turn to dust
drift through the air
all I tried to save disintegrated
fragmented yet held in place
there’s pine on the air and honeysuckle in my eyes and the pages fall from fumbling fingers
skin as dry now as all my precious flowers
letting them go
just
letting them all go
Cover photo by Bernadetta Watts
