No idle browsing to fill a moment allowed,
she wants to know the genres she should feature,
albeit with a tentative smile in her eyes
and the tolerant mien of a patient teacher.

Feigning intent, I stroke the textured spines
and note my hostess throwing me a glance.
I flow like a river between banks of books
lapping their pastel leaves with light hands.

Poised upon their top shelf clouds they call,
the gods of literature with their golden oeuvres.
Lower, humming sirens lure me closer
to the foamy rapids of rocky love sagas.

I avoid the heady aisle of high adventure
where heroes win hard wars and conquer peaks.
I have some taste for food if not for fashion
but end up browsing bargain paperbacks.

I can’t resist raising the books to my face
and breathe the aroma of each published friend.
Milady gives me a nod. We’re on the same page.
But don’t know how this story is going to end.