my original wonder
the smell of paper and ink
the carpeted floor
on which my feet were planted for hours
backbones against the metal bookcase
scavenging through series
stuffing handfuls of books into a tote
my mind jumping into the ocean with mermaids
casting winter spells on the tip tops of glimmering castles
imagining a purple sky with seafoam clouds and turquoise stars
toes twirling through the page’s atlantis
as my eyes transfer the printed words into multiverses
of infinite worlds
all this adventure packed into one building
stepping out through crystal glass doors
down the earthy cement stairs
reminded me the sky was still blue
childhood escape from reality
summers passed on and the buildings were replaced
shelves ripped off the floors, carpet decimated
as the internet’s importance surged
people’s feet strayed from the store
and towards their delivery trucks
even some
chose screens over paper to read
that one never really never made sense to me
sometimes driving by what used to be
worries me that others drive by the same
wondering where their beloved institutions
filled with thousands of temporary adventures
are going