(etiquette)

In the colonies
of chairs
where we read,
there is an etiquette
as least I feel
it – about titles.
It does not seem
polite to look,
and yet I want
to know.
Everyone does.
Twice this week
I have seen
people reading
about diving
in Thailand.
One man
carrying on a long
conversation
with a man
whose grandmother
still lives there.
It is July,
the place is crawling
with children,
who do not read,
only chatter & giggle.
And eat sweet treats
in loud rattling paper.
Personallly, I think
it’s time for them
to go back to school.
Even though they
aren’t mine.
Camp couselors
scold. Joann is
in trouble.
The only one.
Says who?
It seems a popular
place for mothers
to convene,
for the mentally handicapped
who roam the store
talking loudly
to themselves.
Large spaces lure
us into an
anonymiyt we
would be wise to not trust.
Someone is taking
notes.
Recording observations
of anklet tattoos,
reading book titles.

7/6/99