A Book

Every time I am about

to start in a new book

I feel excited for I

don’t know what it

is going to bring me.

I take it in my hands

turn it, and feel it

as if I were blind.

Then I open it

and start reading.

My eyes have

to get used to

the lettertype and

the shade of white on

which they were printed.

Then I let my eyes walk

over the lines from left

to right and from top

to bottom to get

hold of the story.

It takes a while getting

to know the nature of

the personalities who

are about to play

their role in the story.

Dividing my sympathy

between the characters

I read on and let my eyes

run faster over the lines

when things get exciting.

My mood changes from

feeling sorry to being

delighted for what happens

to the persons

I have come to know.

When I have finished the book

I will happily add it to all

the books I read that

gave me a better understanding

of real life situations.

Joke van der Ark

Nr. 1268b – 15 maart 2025