Full Stop

I have been told
that endings
are only beginnings
with a hint of sorrow

but nothing
makes me sadder
than closing the back cover
to my favorite story.

oftentimes, I finish a book
too quickly.
it can seem that no time
has passed
at all
as I was lost
 in the world
of its pages

but I have learned
that I can always
go back to page one.

I have found
a retelling
of my favorite story
leads to new discoveries, and wonders
I had been blind to before.

When I go back,
  to the start, back to
page one
I am overcome
with excitement
to live in this world again
even for only
   a little longer.

I have learned
that endings
are truly beginnings
with a hint of apprehension

but nothing
makes me happier
than opening the front cover
to my favorite story
and starting
  all over.

oftentimes, I find myself
skipping through the chapters
of my own story.
it can seem like
   time
has slipped through my fingers
as quickly as
    pages turn
to ash
and I am lost
       in the spine
        of my own story.

But I have learned

I can always start
      again.

I can open
    an empty book
and start
     from page one.
Just because the book has
run out of pages
doesn't mean my story
has to come to an end.