Matthew Jablonski

Christmas on the Tokyo-Montana Express

 This book I’m reading was checked

into the Cleveland Public Library

27 years ago this week.  It says so

on a card in the back of the book.

27 years ago this week I was 8 years old.

Our Christmas tree was in the front windows

in the old house on East River.  Red and white

stockings hung from the wooden banister.

As pine needles fell onto the hardwood floor

a librarian stamped DEC 22 1980

on a card in The Tokyo-Montana Express

like a name on a gift tag for the future.