My Obsession With Books

I am obsessed with the feel of the new book
Opened in my hands, fingers running down
The center binding; lifting it to my nostrils,
Taking in the musky smell of new ink on page,
Before allowing myself the distinct privilege
Of reading the opening lines, then plunging
Headlong into the author's creative imagination.
I caress it between my hands, rubbing them
Across the front, the back, down the binding
Once, twice, again; I claim this book as my own;
I envision it resting on my bedside table, then
In my reading room next to other coveted works
I have collected and treasured since boyhood.
I hold it to my breast as I approach the cashier--
Not really wanting to hand it over to her to price.
Soon, it will be entirely mine! I am in love again.
The affair grows until the final page is turned,
Until I have laid it down and begun to think about
My new lover in the little bookshop on Oak at Vine.

FIRST PLACE WINNER
Written March 16, 2021
Submitted to "My Obsession" Contest
Sponsored by Regina McIntosh
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021


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Date: 4/10/2021 7:29:00 AM
This is exquisite. Love it!!! Congrats on the top placement and thank you so much for entering. God bless you. Love, Gina
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/10/2021 7:45:00 AM
Thank you ever so much, Regina. It was a true expression of how I feel about books. Your reward was much appreciated.
Date: 3/22/2021 11:25:00 PM
I can so identify with you! That is why I don't as a rule lend out my books. I am hard-pressed to choose between the smell of a new car and that of a book 'hot off the press'. ~Sus
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/23/2021 8:36:00 AM
As you can tell, I can totally relate with you, Sus. Thanks so much for your read and your comment.
Date: 3/17/2021 5:32:00 PM
Milt, I have the number of a really empathetic shrink who has been successful with cases like yours. lol. G.L. in the contest! :) 'G' (for Glue-sniffer)
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/22/2021 8:22:00 PM
I miss you, Gershon!!!!
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/17/2021 6:54:00 PM
So, is he your shrink, G? If you are glue-sniffing, you need one...hmmmm, or is he a she? There is no way to tell whether some nouns are male or female in the English language, you know.
Date: 3/17/2021 9:59:00 AM
Great write, Milton. Also a wonderful obsession, there is something about owning a new book. Perhaps it is the feel and/or the smell. But the pleasure one gets from the read is truly a gift. ~Charlie
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/17/2021 10:23:00 AM
So true, Charlie. Thanks for stopping by.
Date: 3/17/2021 9:58:00 AM
Share the same obsession, Milton, from childhood. I was considered a bookworm - many of my pictures in childhood show a little girl with a book in hand! You have expressed your obsession so beautifully! Best wishes ~ Mala
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/17/2021 10:24:00 AM
Thanks for your visit and your encouragement, Malabika.
Date: 3/17/2021 9:54:00 AM
your love of books comes through loud and clear, l. milton! a wonderful poem! although i'm an avid reader, for most of my life i've read books borrowed from the library and now i read them on my kindle. never thought i'd ever do that, but covid changed a lot in my world, including that. still, as long as i can read, i'm happy...
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Date: 3/17/2021 9:44:00 AM
Ah, I love old book shops, and thriftys also have great values, I got 5 books for 4 . 00 can't beat that price, thank you for sharing your passion of books, Happy St Paddys day dear poet friend
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/17/2021 10:26:00 AM
Oh, yes. I couldn't work those "thrift shops" into my poem, but I love to browse through them. I also find good, almost brand new books at yard sales. If there are books there, I'll check them out! Great price on your books. Enjoy them! You'd have a ball going through my basement where I have around 5,000 books stored.
Date: 3/17/2021 6:02:00 AM
Impressive delivery, Milton--your love of books comes through loud and clear! Well done.
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/17/2021 7:50:00 AM
Thanks, Vijay. A lifelong love of books has been a good thing, though. An obsession worth cultivating!
Date: 3/17/2021 2:39:00 AM
I think many share your obsession Milton, nothing beats the smell and feel of a book. Ive got hundreds on an e, reader and I suppose its the way forward but its not the same. Tom
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/17/2021 7:49:00 AM
Yeah, Tom, I've taken up with Kindle, but I agree it's not the same. Just can't smell an e-reader!
Date: 3/17/2021 2:23:00 AM
This is so familiar. "Not really wanting to hand it over to her to price." I finally got rid of some of mine because they are so HEAVY to move, and I figured they would all be available from the Cloud eventually not realizing we were going to start banning Dr. S. Books!
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L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/17/2021 7:48:00 AM
Been there; done that. I finally had to sell my collection of presidential biographies/memoirs because it was so expensive to move. Now, I try to be careful about my purchases, but I still have over 5,000 books stored in my basement! It's a tragedy! Thanks for sharing.
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