My fingers they
Trickle and trace
Along rugged edges
And battered bindings
Over engraved letters that
Swirl and swoop
Across various covers
Of various novels
I find hiding in the strangest of places
Deep in the dark depths
Of the shelves
Waiting and wishing
Longing to be remembered
To see the light of day
And to their delight I retrieve
Each and everyone
From the shadows that devour
From the dust that scour
I gently dip my nose
To take a peek
And to my surprise
The pages they glow
With stories untold
Some tragic
Some merry
Some frightening
Some witty
One by one
I end my readings
Left with a feeling
Oh so bittersweet
As I turn to the final page
I feel as if
I have lost a friend
But not to fret
Because like the wise
Always say
True friendship
Lasts a lifetime