Dusting off
Years of neglect and cobwebs
From a rare encyclopedia set
Sparsely read but cherished all the same
Its pages are surprisingly an unmistakable Shade of ivory

Eye catching
Considering the abuse and elements
It has been forced to withstand
Should look more well loved at this stage
An act of rebellion
Proclaiming proudly
That its purpose lies beyond hidden display
More than a dust collector on a musty storage

Such advanced level of vanity
For a non-sentient object
It sends a clear telepathic message to me
"It is my duty to remain pristine, for one day
I will grace the bookshelf of a person on the upper echelon of society."

Could not help the chuckle
That escaped my mouth so automatically
Ambitious, aren't we?
Fine line between ambition and delusion
Dear one
Toeing the line
Would be kind to advise thee not to cross the border
Be mindful of the difference
So that it can be astutely detected early

Perhaps I should don my polished glasses
Could've sworn I saw their covers
Glisten more brightly in response
As if it could hear or opine

Another telepathic communication trespasses my mind again
Should I start charging a toll fee for these unwelcomed visits?
"Thou preoccupy yourself far too much with aesthetics.
Remember well,
I hold humanity's treasure inside
My pages are the prophets for future generations
Without me,
Your kind would be doomed to fade
Into obscurity.

With every acquaintances that dies
A piece of your existence dies
Because they will no longer
Be able to spread the memories you were a part of
They only live within your mind
And you shall inevitably forget some of them too

But I?
I forget nothing
I remember everything
I didn't serve as eyewitness for any of it
But I saw it all unfold

I am the testament of the greats
This is their inheritance to you.
Do not contradict my discernment
I recognize a world changing innovator when I see one."

How can such asseverations
Be interpreted as anything other
Than a taunting dare
To corroborate its outlandish claims

Curious as my species is programmed to be
Curse or asset?
It depends on who or what it benefits
Gingerly my slender fingers
Reach out
Selecting volumes at random
Gripping them one at a time
By their spine into my arms

Comfortably nestled
Between my elbow and bosom
Once satisfied
I take them with me
To a more pleasant and comfortable location

I hear no property from the spoiled little brats
I take it as my green light
Opening up one of the tomes
Perusing hungrily all the information
It has to offer
Seemingly deceptively endless
Or is that my brain getting overwhelmed?

Tales of sea
Tales of space
Tales of land
Tales of wind
Tales of metal and cogs
Tales of arguments
Tales of blood, tears, and inhumanity

It has it all

A neatly designed section
Highlighting biographies for the selected few
The distinguished
The unusual
The leaders
The school of thoughts
The stubborn tinkerers
And last, but certainly not least
The revolutionaries

Revolutionaries of all kinds
Let's not let our limiting preconceptions
Trick us into believing
There is only one way to revolutionize the system
A deeper look
Shall share with you
That fate not only favors the bold
But the underdogs as well
It has a famous sweet spot for those

The delicate tip of my finger
Flips the page a new
An imagination defying gasp
Left my throat
Why is my name and picture printed on here?
Have I confused a diary for an encyclopedia?

After a thorough check
I confirmed it was indeed an encyclopedia
Where are my spectacles when needed most?

Revisiting the last pages
Doing a double take
My name are picture are still there

I hear a knowing laugh echoing in my brain

"I am waiting for you to fill it.
My spine hurts
From being cramped in here
For so long
I will look a thousand fold
More exquisite
Gracing your bookshelves
Where I rightfully belong."




© Elsbeth Mareile G.C.