“From mom and dad dec 83’ “

That was the first thing I viewed
As I opened the book
At the half price book store.

How did this wonderful book
End up here?
The pages were aged
And darkened,
And I remembered reading it
In the early eighties.

Just a material possession, for sure,
But, it was those words,
Those very special words,
That were written, very small
Inside the back cover.
It meant something
To the “mom and dad”
Who had purchased this book
For their child.

I had flashbacks
Of crumpled, homemade valentines,
Trays of cookies,
Decorated especially
For my children.
A heart shaped cake pan.
I was so excited to have found it.

Valentine’s day
Was one of my favorite holidays.
Cinnamon hearts, cards, candy,
And usually a small, stuffed toy.

Children grow up
And move away.
Some stay closer than others,
And I am not speaking about miles.

It all disappeared,
Like a sandstorm,
Moving the desert.
Everything changed,
Like the book that was left,
At the half price book store.

I picked up the book.
It no longer mattered
To the individual that discarded it,
But that beautiful, little book
Mattered very much to me.

catherine m howell
AKA "wolfycat ~ 2011