Terrified

traumatized

he returned to books

words swam into beauties

in front of his eyes

he inhaled perfumes far off

tasted liquor ethereal

soft wafts pressed against

his sensual form

diving deep into an ocean

of unknown inhabitants

he said, hi, hello to many

wide-eyed, thrilled

treasuring his time

in the unknown

he watched as

exclamation marched

in great excitement

the comma tried to sleep

the full stop at rest

he peeped at the backside

of a parenthesis and was surprised

to see the colon hiding

semi-colon on her death bed

curving seductively

he stopped to breathe

some life

into her heart

he moved heavy sentences

to find surprising power

in phrases, in words

until he lost

it all in signs .