Paralysis
the book was thick and black
covered with dust
like gray moss on a pathway
words frozen in paralysis
bowing and creaking within lines
trapped on the yellowed pages
binding cracking and groaning
refusing to be opened
determined to remain hidden
around a bend in the path
or behind the large oak
heavy with Spanish moss
the whispers twine themselves
through the branches
and the shut pages
their sibilance winding through the binding
sliding along the dusty cover
of the thick black book: listen
listen to the poetry
that lies within the faint voice
trapped and hidden inside this book
Pamela Olson, 6/9/09
For Carry On Tuesday’s prompt,
“The book was thick and black
and covered with dust.
Its boards were bowed and creaking”
from Possession by A.S. Byatt
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