The Gift of the First Year
PAPER
The gift of the first year
Is paper
Paper?
The stuff that
Lines birdcages
Wraps fish
Spews from the printer in a never-ending stream of work
Blows down the canyons of New York City on a cold winter day
Overflows the can at the corner of West Fourth and Jones Street
That
Gets ink our your fingers on a beautiful Sunday morning
Is a template for the knowledge of the ages
Is a canvas for the likes of Rembrandt and Degas
Streams down at the stroke of midnight in Time Square in celebration
Enshrouds even the smallest gift with anticipation
And records the precious thoughts of one lover to the other?
Ah…
Paper!!!
Each year I write a poem to commemorate our wedding anniversary using the traditional anniversary gift as the inspiration. Click the links below to read the series so far.