I bought this book in college
for one of my freshman classes
about American Imperialism
and how everything
we’ve done
as a nation
is wrong.

I never opened the book
which is just one of the many ways
we are wrong
but I’ve kept it since because
its thesis was fascinating
and its cover was vibrant
and I paid full price for it
since I didn’t know any better
at the time.

It’s been a little while
since that first book
from that first class
during that first year of college
and I’ve carried it
from dorm to apartment
to occasional hostel
to vacation knapsack.
It’s stayed with me
spine uncracked
for what feels like generations.
I no longer read books
not on bound pages
and the dust atop the text
has dust of its own.

It’s time to free the book
from my tyranny
or vice verse
even though I can’t imagine
a life without it.
Even more, though,
I can’t imagine ever actually reading it
so I’m letting you have it
at the low low cost
of cover price
adjusted for inflation.