Dust Jackets

Kinsey Peterson

Dust jackets are designed to protect books,

Yet for some reason the touch

Of their textile against my calloused skin

Urges me to recoil

And remove the offending papers

At the detriment of the books I hold so dear.

 

I find people often remind me of dust jackets.

 

There is something about them 

So demeaning

And disregardable.

It’s easy to recognize the way they rub you wrong,

Irritating your skin and bones.

 

What is the most irksome 

Is the fact that I know people aren’t horrible.

Dust jackets protect books 

The same way a person’s personality protects themself.

While I find those personalities to be 

A small piece of Hell,

The person behind them 

I find I hold dear.

 

So while a dust jacket may be something easily removed,

Discarded,

I can’t say the same of people.

 

You can’t rip the life out of someone the same way 

You might unfold a book from its covers

Despite the fact that you may spend years 

Attempting the feat.

 

So my shelves remain half-covered

With half the books covered

And the other half exposed

To my life

And to dust.

 

And my phone remains half-filled

With numbers who haven’t called

And texts that are unanswered

As the people I love

Age and die

And turn to dust.

  • Author: Kinsey Peterson (Offline Offline)
  • Published: August 19th, 2023 12:36
  • Comment from author about the poem: I have found writing to be difficult lately so apologies for the delay.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 9
  • User favorite of this poem: Doggerel Dave.
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Comments3

  • MendedFences27

    Recover your books with a paper that is amenable to you. Your books will be double protected. As for people, oh, if only we could.
    A lovely poem about social interplay. Enjoyed it. - Phil A.

  • Doggerel Dave

    You certainly have the human condition covered!!
    Worth more than a moment's consideration.
    Thank you.

    • Kinsey Peterson

      Thank you kindly Dave, I am quite happy you enjoyed this piece 🙂

    • Neville


      I am sure many will identify with the thoughts and feelings that served to inspire this somewhat compelling social documentary .. enjoyed from end to end ... write on K ...N

      • Kinsey Peterson

        only somewhat? I'm offended Neville ((:



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