Crisp papers bundled between
cool, velvety covers--
a most intoxicating inky smell.
Its sultry mouth
beckons the innocent, the experienced, the infantile, and the wise.
To a storied past
or a fantasied future,
lulling all into ecstasies of magical imaginings–
visions of crafted hallucinations.
Oh, those lovely hallucinations
from endless choices:
sizzling crime, popping drama, screeching horror, panting thriller, pounding suspense!
All who partake of this stimulant,
all who inhale and exhale this high,
come out of its psychedelic dreams restored
but wanting.
And then the need for the next fix becomes sine qua non.*
*Sine qua non- an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary
3/27/2026
The Words That Got to Me
“a most intoxicating inky smell (so close to new car perfection)” really stood out to me—that comparison was unexpected and instantly relatable. I also loved “Visions of crafted hallucinations.” That line carries a strong sense of imagination and pulls you into the experience of reading in a really vivid way.
Suggestions / Possible Tweaks
The imagery is really creative throughout and carries the piece. In a couple places, you might tighten the phrasing slightly just to keep that clarity consistent, but overall it works and feels intentional.
This reads like a love letter to books, and I liked the slightly playful tone mixed with that sense of addiction to reading. The way you described it as something you come out of “restored but wanting” felt especially true. Really enjoyable read.