The Blank and Future Book

I’d always thought that books were the same,

There wasn’t a lot to choose,

They each seep slowly into your brain

With knowledge you can’t refuse,

But then a book I found on a shelf

All dirty and dark and dank,

I’d read so far, then turning the page

I’d find every page was blank.

The print will stay till I drop my eyes

And the book slips from my grasp,

Then every page that’s ahead is blank

As the book escapes my clasp.

The villain smirks as I lose the plot

And he changes what’s to be,

He struggles up from the printed page

In an effort to be free.

I read the book on a cliff top verge

Looking down along the coast,

The day was calm like a soothing balm

And I felt as warm as toast,

My eyelids, heavy as lead dropped down

Preparatory to sleep,

When someone scaling the cliff ahead

Called out, began to weep.

‘God help me, sir, or I’ll fall below,

On that pile of jagged rocks,

Reach out for me and don’t let me go,

You don’t look the type that mocks.’

I noticed then that I’d dropped the book

In a pool of mud, and rank,

It fell agape with a broken back

The following pages blank.

‘I have to ask how your tale will end,

It’s unfinished in the book,

Your villainous deeds go on, and then

Disappear each time I look.’

‘It ends any way you want it to,

It’s the tale without an end,

For you are the villain in the book

You can do what you intend.’

I stood up straight and I kicked on out

At the figure on the cliff,

And he fell back with a scream, a shout

To the rocks along the reef,

I turned to pick up the broken book

Wiped the pages free from mud,

There wasn’t a single page left blank

Each page was stained with blood.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Barbz]

Very deep and dark, David....a total figment of your imagination. this is a book meant for you to write, The readers of this future book would not be plagued by heavy lids nor by a dreaded conclusion! You are a genius with the pen and never a blank page in your future....The truth reveals itself in so many strange ways says this reader......Barbz

[TPK Stories]

A book with blank pages. . .stained with blood. . .wonderful mystery David.

[minisla]

Love the connection between book and self. Another pretty dark one David.

[R Smith]

absolutely stunning end David and a work of the greatest imagination bravo!

[andrew mitchell]

Dark David Dark. I loved the last two stanzas and I'm glad these books are not available! lol

[Junction]

Very interesting indeed. I guess if life is a book we can write each page as we go along. I'll read it a couple of times. It has a deeper meaning.

[V]

I really like the story you created in this one and the rhyme scheme. It's simple to follow and nice to read like lovely, artsy words to your brain as music is to one's ears.

[Ayushi]

Hat's off to your imagination.
Loved the ending of the story.

[Bibliophile-Tipsy]

Deep and Impressive Imagination lead to reality
You can't let them be blank
You can fill that blank places with your majestic pen
By whom this Poem written..

[Tomás Ó C..]

Back to your gothic best!!! Love it... a great twist!!!

[Gaurav]

As creative and imaginative as a creation can be. Love this. Words are so aptly used that i just crave for same line of thoughts. But kudos, superb. Thanks for sharing :)