The Love and Horror Here

Paper Girl

I see you there, immersed in a paper town,
Eyes devouring a world made a words,
And I know,
That you'd rather be there,
Part of the midnight ink,
Than here with me now.
You get lost within a world that never could be,
The way some people get lost on their way to some strange new home,
And no matter how hard you try,
That place will never be real,
But sometimes, for your sake, I wish it was,
I know you'd be content there,
Resting amongst the pages,
Your whole existence not but words,
And yet your story would live on forever.
Ink-stained fingers reach,
Out for the bright, strange new world,
Of their own making.
I wish I could preserve you there,
Like some rare flower,
Because I know that would make you happy,
Your legend charted across paper,
Never to be forgotten,
Because you fear mortality more than most,
I know how greatly you fear the unknown that lurks outside your storied imaginings,
And I know what a truly paper girl you are.
I can't fault you for it,
But just this once,
I'd like to be invited into your world, too,
A world that proves anything is possible,
A world that proves a pen is mightier than a blade,
A world with magic, and dragons, and time-travel, and anything that your heart desires,
A world that makes you happy,
I would like to visit that world with you,
And never leave it again.