Contributor: Stacy Maddox

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I went through your 560 pages
Slowly, one leaf at a time
So old your torn binding
No longer threads its way
Through your green backbone

Chapter by wondrous chapter
Stories, plays, sonnets of love
Leapt out in bold, ebony letters
I was careful not to crease
Or mar perfectly printed font

I thought about how many
Others have caressed the inside
Of the opus, a treasure chest
How many pairs of believing eyes
Have seen your yellow-stained paper

Lively black and white pictures
Hand-drawn with precise strokes
Marvelous Shakespearean works
Brought to life as the inspired artist
Viewed the reawakening world

Tales of brave men and women
Dramatic kings, queens and fairies
Knights with their metallic swords drawn
Tinkers, tailors and bellow-menders
Set my imagination to bright fire

As you stoked those flames higher
Scenes began forming before me
Of gentle swains and fair maidens
Counts, dukes, lords and ladies
Flourishing cornets and loyal servants

I have only touched the surface
To the depths of the poetic man
Who must have toiled and written
And started over a thousand times
Bringing smiles to a billion faces

You comforted my wandering soul
With words of wisdom and fantasy
Where have you been hiding away
In your 100+ years of existence
Whose arms have held you safe...


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“Stacy Maddox lives, dreams and writes in the fast-paced city of Lawrence, KS. Stacy has been published in Shades Of Expression by Gerl Publishing, ken*again, Daily Love, The Entroper, Emerge Literary Journal, Three Line Poetry, The Fat City Review, Eskimo Pie, Mused: The BellaOnline Literary Review and more. She has been passionate about poetry, photography, music, quotes and stories for over 30 years."