Reading a Book

(Dedicated to Billy Collins)

When I finish reading a book, 

What I remember is the name of the author and the book

And vaguely, like the dying note of a sad song,

the theme of the book.

I leave behind thousands of words written

And think about the man who lived, fought and lived in the book.

I caress the cover, the smooth hard paper bound,

I know I have a world in my hand, a world that is not mine.

You wont believe it, sometimes 

The characters take hold of my collar 

And drag me to the time and space

Where it all had happened.

I stay there,

Say for a fortnight or so

And witness the universe changing it's color.

I come back unharmed and unperturbed,

But the feeling of staying

Right in the middle of the plot,

Awakened all the time

Except for a doze of sleep whenever I paused

Remains with me.

When I return,

I generally count the number of stations

I have been in this journey,

This time it was 173.