Vandalized

I move through a book on my imagination's feet,

Which is why reading keeps my mind fit.

Every book is a playground, too, so reading keeps me young.

It takes me back to my own playground days,

and sometimes, to the first time I saw one vandalized.

The first time I ever came across a bad apple in a good batch,

A book all wrong in a genre I thought was alright.

It was like someone had torn down the monkey bars and the slide.

Now, when I dive into a book, I make sure to bring some cement.