Impossible to Fold

6/14/2026 (c) 

 I once tried to recycle newspaper

adding dried flowers

and pink cardstock.

Hours.

It took hours to soak, to beat

with a hand mixer.

Then  pouring and shaking the mush

over a framed screen

like panning for gold.

Days to dry.

I tried heating the mash with a blow-dryer

and then in the oven—

tinged the petals

and at last,

a heavy texture

that refused the ink,

impossible to fold,

tampered paper that lost all

it’s paper essence.