Aerogrammes
A stamp printed on blue paper in a stingray shape
blame the flaps
Just enough space without lines
to let others know you are still alive
One step up from a postcard
too public, those; these, at least, are sealed
French classmates said they were inexpensive
German friends pronounced them efficient
British acquaintances called them origami
Coal-miner cousins opened them like Chinese puzzles
Australian co-workers made them into airplanes
It didn’t fly far with that 90 yen stamp
Today I found one unused in a desk drawer—forgotten long ago
Replaced by email and Skype
What fun to find a fountain pen
And scratch out a letter
The discovery in someone’s mailbox
Was there puzzlement? An incredulous gaze?
Read where I went
Know what I experienced
Hello Aerogramme.
Good-bye Aerogramme.