A Plea
please,
don't hurt me like the others
they would break my back,
bend my spine in ways
it was never meant to turn
they would leave me
to swelter in hot cars
for hours
in closets, under piles of debris
for months
they would pass me around like a whore
from hand to hand like a disease
now here I lie
slumped over on a shelf
like a drunk hugging a wall
waiting for someone
to stop
to look
to pick me
waiting for you
are you different?
will you earmark my pages?
set your children upon me
with neon markers and glitter pens?
will you leave rings on my cover
with your heavy morning brew?
will you abuse me like they did?
please,
don't hurt me like the others
they would break my back,
bend my spine in ways
it was never meant to turn
they would leave me
to swelter in hot cars
for hours
in closets, under piles of debris
for months
they would pass me around like a whore
from hand to hand like a disease
now here I lie
slumped over on a shelf
like a drunk hugging a wall
waiting for someone
to stop
to look
to pick me
waiting for you
are you different?
will you earmark my pages?
set your children upon me
with neon markers and glitter pens?
will you leave rings on my cover
with your heavy morning brew?
will you abuse me like they did?