Back story: A few years ago, in a small book store in Cincinnati, Ohio, I bought a used book of Pablo Neruda's poems. There was a dedication scrawled inside the front cover. I've always wondered who these people were, and how this heartfelt gift wound up in a second hand book store.
Dedication to unknown friend,
Perhaps lover?
Escamillo to Carmen?
Emilio to Christina?
Romeo to Juliet?
Cyrano to Roxanne?
Danny to Sandy?
Strangers' names,
Inscribed in a book
Of poetry by Pablo Neruda
Rescued from a bin
Of second hand books
In Cincinnati.
Yet no strangers
To a poet.
Who were they?
Persons I'll never know,
Their affection understood,
Recorded for posterity,
Here with me.
Donovan Baldwin