Rows of parallel books,
bound in untarnished leather,
and lightly straightened.
bound in untarnished leather,
and lightly straightened.
Shelves never speckled with dust,
orderly.
A controlled façade of safety.
Smoke alarms,
fresh with the aroma
of newly opened batteries.
The books haven’t been read;
that would ruin the appearance.
There’s no severe dust allergy,
just caution.
No chance at a fire;
the stress of cooking means takeout.
For the final touch:
volume set to an even number.
It may not be much,
but it mitigates the dread.
