Into the future...

Our challenge is to write a poem from a future archeologist's point of view, regarding a particular object or place familiar to us today. It is a challenge indeed, but I hope to make it a fun one!

What is this thing?

What is this thing,

This book-like thing?

It's larger than most most books!

And what is this?

It's cover is board

Covered in blue plastic.

Is it plastic?

It did not biodegrade!

And what's inside?

No pages bound together, no.

There are holes,

Two holes!

Holes in the middle of the left margin,

Of each page loose page;

Each page pierced through

With metal spikes!

The pages are held in place

With a...grip-like object;

If I press one side, it seems to widen

Two metal mechanisms,

Making it come away.

If I flick this switch up,

The spikes open;

Can these pages be removed?

To maim an ancient manuscript like that!

What sacrilege!

Only primitive beasts

Could place precious printed paper

In such a ghastly fashion!

Andrea Vermaak