Bookmark

The book that I needed

Was on the highest shelf

I put it there on purpose

When I put your picture

On page three hundred and twelve

To hide your visage from my vision

An attempt to spare more pain

Useless at the end of things

Because I still felt it

In the echoes of your name

I chose that book because I thought

I would never need it

It was the perfect spot

To lock you in

Keep you close but out of mind

Then I needed information

Contained within its pages

Just seventeen turns away from

The haunted memory of you

I’d like to say I succeeded

In resisting temptation

But I am not that strong

So I flipped through

And found the forbidden square

The bookmark in the heart of me

The place that I had lost