birthday gifts and yellowed pages

I received a book

today

this my birthday

From a forgotten poet

He wasn’t famous,

 nor well known

the pages are yellowed

with age

 old and dusty

it smells like

mildew, library shelves

And wood varnish  

these pages

life is poured out

essence of heart

Etched with grace

Like sunrises on

Bright blue mornings

Crisp in spring time breezes

It was said also

Samuel Clemens

Was born with the rise

Of Haley’s comet

And passed it again

At the closing

Such a final chapter

Isn’t in this book

But only spoken

In whisper

Too loudly

Like creaking pews

In church

I wished I could have

Met them both

Yet still might

They be heard

If one listens hard

Enough

On waning breezes

And in the scent

Mildew, library shelves

And wood varnish

Thank you

For unread

chapters.