the reader's contract

what I expect when I enter a book

let me in.
let your pages form a window
into an ancient future,
impossible past,
or reimagined now
and let me fall.

your words are set
with well earned pride
and painstaking attention
forming a bridge to me—
together we create a landscape
more intricate,
more correct,
with two artists’ genius
than the version first evident
in your typeset letters.

my careful struggles,
the unceasing labors I must do
for sustenance—
let me forget them
in your light.
let your pages shine
with the winds of the stars
and I will catch them,
embrace them.
let me fall into them and soar.

line count: 26

Author's Note ▼

My word list: version, light, window, genius, ancient, painstaking, careful, bridge, correct, pride
Taken from: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett 1990

Prompt ▼

Prompt for: Sept 24, 2015 (Ren)
Subject or Theme: Borrowed From Books Grab the closest published book to you (I'm trusting you on this) and turn to page 29. Pick 10 words from that page and write them down.(You may not pick these words: a, an, and, the, of, I, in, it, is, et cetera...they must be at least 5 letters or more.) Then you must write a poem using at least 7 of those words.
Word(s) to Include: At least 7 of the 10 words from your list. (NO DERIVATIVES ALLOWED)
Forbidden Word(s): (none) (or any derivatives of these words)
Additional Parameters: In the author's note you MUST LIST ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: The title of the book, the author of the book, the copyright date of the book and the complete list of the 10 words you originally chose. Remember to highlight the words you use in GREEN. Minimum of 15 lines and maximum of 30 lines.
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description

.