whose hands have turned the pages
of this little tome from 1878?
They escaped into the land of Arthur,
Merlin and Lancelot but whoever
bought this copy has long since passed away
yet this classic shows few signs of decay.
It is Aegean blue, page edges red
and I purchase it for merely a pound.
Its scent is from the past yet feels petal-soft
and now I too can lose myself
in a medieval world of kings, knights and magicians
wondering if long after I am dead
this fine hand-sized old book will still be read.