Page 11 - Contrast2007

Ode to Paper

c::::

Julianne Lechman

sewn into a novel,
the sweet, grainy
swish of pages,
loping dog ears,
greasy fingerprints,
dribbles of spiced tea,

a crinkled, bleach-worn
dollar, fished
from a steaming blue
jean pocket, scented
with dryer sheet wildflower,

a crackling brown bag,
spilling hot, gold
shoestring fries;
a waxy, wide-mouthed
cup, catching feathery ice .
shavings, tilted under a gurghng
lime stream of Mountain Dew,

a slick, red-backed
deck of cards, cut twice,
shuffled - a purring
accordion, crisp
as old bread, perfumed
with ripe blackberry
cigar smoke,

a fat, 99-cent
rain softened
memo pad, keeper
of empty-caloried
grocery lists,
flimsy columns
of figures, runaway
thoughts,
and inky blue
tornadoes I scribble
by the phone
while I'm on hold.

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