illegible

arms full at Seeker's
the owner says hey,
a girl with a social justice fetish
so, who hurt you?
i smile.

pick through the racks of old paperbacks
enjoying the covers. i miss the days when our words were adorned.
bright colours, outrageous fonts.
burlesque layouts.
"an exciting adventure!" on the front cover, in bold.
the owner says hey,
a girl with an eye on the past
so, what are you running from?
i smile.

paying for my new friends
eyeball a magazine cover -
how to catch (and keep!) a man
and for a second -
i'm naked, beneath the lean mass of you.
my fingers always grasping, looking for handholds in the rock face.
and your words drift into view,
candy-coloured type.
"you wouldn't let me know you,
wouldn't show me your real self.
goodbye."

the owner says hey,
a girl with her heart on her sleeve!
so, where did you meet him?
and i wish it had been this bookstore
where i am not so unreadable.
i smile.