It stands, silent messenger of books

Books for her cataloging

Books for her gentle touch

Her careful hands

Delicate turning of pages

The title page

The existence of separate bibliographies

Of indices

Of illustrations

Tables and silent graphs

Waiting

Waiting for her

Dust gathers on her book truck

And she is not there

Dust covers the faint traces of tears

Books stand as ancient mourners

Collective wisdom stands watch over her place.

Until it becomes

Another's.

-- to Tonya, U of U Library, 1998. I still miss you, my dear friend.