Glossy illustrations float
colorful characters and exotic places
before a little boys sparkling blue eyes.
His smile stretches to surround his mom and dad
with youthful delight as he carefully
turns the pages of his new book.

She blows a cloud of dust
off the leather jacket of a book she pulls
from a small wooden table. Vibrant
ink drawings take her breath away.
“Is this for sale?” she asks
the garage sale proprietor.

A stiff black inspector’s boot
stumbles on a buried article in cooling ashes.
His gloved hand retrieves a charred book.
The embossed cover and bright images still visible
bring a grim smile to the fireman’s face.
With a sad heart he tosses the book in the garbage.