Member-only story
Loosely Bound
free verse poem
Bound by tattered leather
wisdom rests unobtrusively unnoticed
on a marred wooden table beside her.
Another scary day to hurry up and wait.
Fidgeting with the strap on her purse
she notices the tear in the leather.
In days before she would plan a trip to replace it
but on this dreary paused day,
another specialist’s delayed schedule
stretches her anxiety like a ream of pulled taffy.
Inhaling slowly as if to slow down time
she places the bag on the table.
Slight curiosity draws her to torn, tissue-thin pages
bound loosely in another worn leather cover.
And ancient words — ever new
refresh her fretful soul.
I wrote the rough draft for this poem as I sat in a waiting room at the hospital. There were others there, looking as scared and nervous as I felt. It’s unusual these days to see a Bible anywhere in a general public area, but that day I was surprised to see one on the table.
