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._