The Last Book

There are many books

Which currently exist.

But one day

Not long from now

They will all be gone.

We know this.

Look at how they degrade on the shelf

And develop that brown smell

And the pages begin to crack.

Most of us have not seen a book

In the moment when

It no longer exists

But we know this happens—

most of the oldest books

No longer exist.

So there will be a day

Or perhaps just a moment

When there will only be one book left

Out of the books that exist right now.

Where is that book now?

What path will it take towards its demise?

Who is holding it at this moment,

To shade her eyes from the sun

As it shines through the leaves

Of the tree up above?