the abandoned bookmark—
It's only a piece of paper,
he says as he slides its edge against his left thumb,
Only a piece of paper.
If it's only a piece of paper,
you want to say,
Give me a piece of paper that
Slides effortlessly between what's over
and what's to come;
Hops space and time and books;
Juts out of all that like
an indicator that
there's yet another reality that beckons
Give me a piece of paper that k-
He has ripped the bookmark in two
to put to the winds
And you have spoken not one word
You wait for him to lead;
On having gathered what he discarded,
You catch up with him.
He wonders if you've
Just some piece of paper, you say.
You wanted the bookmark
He has given you two.