When Books Die

Whenever that time has finally come

And they say, “The last printed book is done!

Dusty covers and page-turning by hand?

Forgotten for all the screens in the land!”

When an I-Pad, Kindle, or Blackberry

Has more volumes than the public library;

The day reading an author clear through

Gives way to clicking just a page or two;

Familiar glow upon the reader’s face?

Comes from device, not a faraway place.

Then with a sad little sigh to myself,

I will take an old friend down off the shelf;

And I’ll get lost again in distant world,

Once the joy of any true boy or girl.