I.

Some of my favorite things to hear 

“I need a new book.”

“Do you have any other books by this author?”

“I need a bookmark.”

II.

A Bookmark Means

You found a story you want to come back to.

A story was so good that 

you’re willing to wait for it 

until the next day.

You don’t want to miss a thing, 

you want to start exactly where you left off.

This book, this story, 

is yours, 

you marked it, 

and heaven help anyone who moves 

your mark.

You found something truly special — 

maybe for the first time, 

maybe for the hundredth time, 

but either way 

you found something worth sticking with.

In a world where you can’t trust everyone,

you know a little piece of paper 

or cardstock 

will be there, 

ready to nestle itself within words 

and paragraphs 

within a different part of the story.

When it’s gone, 

when you lose your place in your book,

and therefore lose your place in the story making, 

forcing you to you flip through 

old stories 

and dialogue

and thoughts 

to get back to that place you once sat, 

helping you see the importance of remembering your place,

never losing your place, 

and, 

when looking at your place

within that thick stack of pages containing 

stories, 

memories, 

monologues, 

dialogues, 

philosophies, 

histories, and

questions 

mixed with 

love, 

hate, 

sorrow, 

confusion, 

excitement, 

or pain – 

you see how far you’ve come, 

and you see how far you’ve left to go.

You intend to come back.

You are a reader, 

for once you have a bookmark, 

you tell yourself

and everyone else 

that this little rectangle – 

or sticky note 

or gum wrapper 

or birthday card

or envelope —

will go to another book, 

and another

and another.