At the beginning, books

were written on clay tablets.

This is their least

perishable form.

Every step afterwards

has been a step towards impermanence.

Papyrus, bark, palm leaf and paper

all vanish when clay endures.

Now, we have achieved

even less permanence in digital ebooks.

Long after each ebook in existence

has vanished

the clay tablets from ancient Sumer

still survive.

At the end, the beginning

still remains.

03.02.2012