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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/947484-looking-for-you
by Rhyssa
Rated: 18+ · Book · Contest Entry · #2081410
my entries for the Construct Cup
#947484 added December 15, 2018 at 1:28am
Restrictions: None
looking for you
it appeared one rainy afternoon,
set down an alley
with antiques in the windows
and a sign, painted glossy red and gold:
“Ye Olde Christmas Magick,” and it
drew me in because randomly
misspelled words designed
to simulate archaic-isms
make me laugh and because my list
was still lacking checkmarks
beside very important names
(including yours).

the door rang in tune as it
opened for me, a relief
after the day’s discord.
the air was still and quiet. no carols
ringing in the year—instead,
my ears felt muffled—
as though I were walking through
a feather pillow.

it smelled of Christmas,
piquant with cinnamon and oranges and
evergreen and mint, so thick
I could taste it.

the proprietor
looked at me over silver, square
rimmed spectacles, his beard
long and white, his coat red.
“Do you need help, Rhyssa,”
he said, and I shook my head
and turned to view the merchandise.

three steps more
before I stopped, befuddled.
he shouldn’t have known my name,
I turned, but he was gone,
leaving a sparkle
of gold dusted cobwebs
behind the counter and
blank wall where the door had been.

but I wasn’t scared
although the exit was gone.
instead, I caught a glimpse of
a bound journal with a pen
just waiting for epistemological
adventures, a pair of dangly
earrings in the shape of snowflakes
and bells, and a book I’d been longing for
and reached out to almost
touch—

but my eye was drawn past
to a cat—white with blue eyes
and a grin, staring at me from her
shelf where she sat in ceramic glory,
and it was as though she shouted
Rhyssa, take me. I’m perfect for her!

and he was at my elbow,
reaching for the cat before I knew
I’d decided it was hers.
“Wise choice,” he said, and laughed
so that his belly shook, “it’s
better to give than receive,”
and it was wrapped and I found
myself walking out the door
before I even got my wallet out, the
floorboards creaking in tune
as I left.

enclosed is the cat. it swears
it belongs.
as for me,
when I opened the packages
from you, I found
everything that had caught
my eye.

line count: 75 (I think. I tried counting several times and got 75 twice)

Prompt

© Copyright 2018 Rhyssa (UN: sadilou at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Rhyssa has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/books/entry_id/947484-looking-for-you