The Bookmark Poem by Jai Subramanian

He observes
the abandoned bookmark—
It's only a piece of paper,
he says as he slides its edge against his left thumb,
Only a piece of paper.

If it's only a piece of paper,
you want to say,
Give me a piece of paper that
Slides effortlessly between what's over
and what's to come;
Hops space and time and books;
Juts out of all that like
an indicator that
there's yet another reality that beckons

Give me a piece of paper that k-

He has ripped the bookmark in two
to put to the winds
And you have spoken not one word
You wait for him to lead;

On having gathered what he discarded,
You catch up with him.
He wonders if you've
dropped something.
Just some piece of paper, you say.

You wanted the bookmark
He has given you two.