old books, old friends

 
 
 
 
stopped in a local
used book store
 
found a copy of S.E
Hinton's " that was  
then, this is now."
 
had been searching
for a copy of it for  
the past several
years
 
payed ten bucks
 
knew it was over
priced
 
could bought it  
online for less
than half that
cost
 
but I wouldn't have
been able to see
and touch the cover
 
feel the creases
 
see the stains  
 
understand the wars
it had lived through
 
wouldn't have been
able to flip through
the pages and notice
the dog ears  
 
or the yellowing  
of the paper
 
or that pungent,
dusty smell of the
pulp
 
you see...
 
every book tells a
story
 
the story captured
on the pages and
between the covers
 
and the story  
of it's own
life
 
I took my book home  
and introduced him
to all my other old
friends waiting on
the shelf
 
at night I hear them  
whispering their  
adventures to each  
other
 
and I am reminded
 
that there is still some  
magic left in  
this old  
life