you read these pages with a familiar ease (even the ones with numbers that aren't taught in calc three like [infinity symbol] and square root of e to the negative one)/ small blocks form all these unspoken words/ unblinking your eyes blur the text/ lines move fluidly/ lies move fluidly/ and letters stretch from end to end/ once upon a time.../ (history repeats itself)/ twice upon a time.../ pouring over paragraphs/ do you absorb them/ as they absorb the mirrored intensity of your stare/ disbelief, grief/ skim, skip, scan/ ripped chapters end abruptly and torn corners/ are missing whole, real, rational numbers at a time/ (i/ imagine)/ loosely worn leatherbound covers/ title slightly faded, missing a long lost dust jacket/ you eyes strain to finish/ but interest wanes/ lids droop, lashes encase/ the volume slams shut/ falls in a heap (again)/ echoes on bitterly cold tiles/ history repeats itself.
(c) 2005