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Books of memory

I slowly skip these pages

See the poems I've written for you

See the smiles I've placed there

And slowly skipping pages

I jump across time

That I've marked in these books

Seeing the essence of me there

Smelling the scent of you.

I see the rose petals that have

dried

And died their powdery ash

Their fading fragrance

These petals are my book liners

My page markers

And I secure them there

Against the border

Of an empty page

I slowly skip these pages

Feel the crispness of silky paper

Recycled trees. Recycled dreams

And I take my time

Hopping on clouds

Drinking the memories

Sealed in this ink

Feeling you there

I see the antique picture of you

Floating above these pages

Hear your laughter in these stories

Prancing across time

I remember when you were mine

Listening to your straining breath

You slipped away

And forever

I am haunted by the image

Of you that day.