red booth

I was searching for a  mystery
newly in paperback
but found instead 
a fancy-boxed flashback
lying irresistible amid 
the holiday greetings
no one chose to send,
the games no one wants to play.
I took it up and held it to my
eye, to the light,
knowing what I’d see,
not expecting to find
the click and slide of 
bright glass bits
enchanting as childhood Christmas.
If only the world would serve up
a new perspective with 
just the turn of a wrist
or, if we so chose,
would stand still for us
as long as our hand held steady.

- Barbara Archer