Once upon a time
I sat to read a book.
I started in my bed
And there began to look.

I watched the words and phrases creeping
Hoped to find the plot
Each dog-eared page, each moment seeping
Off the pages, to my heart

The characters enthralled me
Stole me from my world to theirs
Whispered all their hopes, desires
Wishes, dreams, and cares

I delved right in but quickly found
That once I was addicted
This book I thought was once a treat
Now had me afflicted

The characters I felt were real
Ended when the story did
Once there was no page to peel
I was left disheartened

Once upon a time I read 
And reading I did learn
That these small words were all it took
To make me one sad bookworm