Open Book

Open Book
(Tribute to a Tutor)

By Tatiana Pahlen

You said, your life has been an open book,
your lithesome wrist
enticed me with a gesture
to step inside
for a pedantic look
to measure you by volume, not the cover
and share codes,
to stay in power,
Maneuvering this foolish, manly world...

Before I found an exit off your hook,
you had enlightened me
that I mistook:
each page you charged by minutes,
not by hours,
and, if read all through,
I'll graduate with honors.