Pews

It’s heavier than I remember,

a dense brick of paper and glue

stuck between a coaster and a deck of cards.

The spine gives way at 'Abide With Me,'

dropping open like a mouth.

The gold on the cover is mostly grease now,

rubbed off by thumbs that are probably

already under the grass.

My wrist starts to ache from the pull of it,

a dull, familiar gravity.