An Ode to Bookshops

Palms on window panes⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Nose pressed against glass⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
A longing gaze towards shelves of treats ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
All different colors, all different sizes⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
But each of them filled⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
With⁣⁣⁣⁣
Delectable ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Divine ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Delightful ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Delicious ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Words⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
And worlds ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
And adventures⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
And love ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
And life ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
And magic⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
I long for the tiny bell to jingle as I push the door ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
And find it unlocked ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
To run my fingers along spines and creamy paper as I slowly sample pages ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
To listen to friendly chatter and ask for novel praises ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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And then choose which treat —⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
No, let’s be honest — TREATS⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
to take home with me today ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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I am every child who has ever paused in front of a candy shop with salivating mouths, their taste buds anticipating sweetness ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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But my chosen treat has, and always will be, books⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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And it’s my eyes that want to feast on phrases ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
And my mind that wants to devour first one and then another and another and so on… ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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So on this day which celebrates the bookshops that are smaller⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
More ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Personal⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Intimate⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Neighborly ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Charming ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Quintessential ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Here is my ode to you ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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Oh, but I love you so⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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And I’m grateful for websites and phones and alternative ways to gather my books and show you support⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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But I wait impatiently for:⁣⁣
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Jingling bells ⁣⁣⁣⁣
And open doors ⁣⁣⁣⁣
And open arms ⁣⁣⁣⁣
And comfy chairs ⁣⁣⁣⁣
And warm drinks ⁣⁣⁣⁣
And warm hearts ⁣⁣⁣⁣
And recommendations ⁣⁣⁣⁣
And you, ⁣⁣dear booksellers⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
🤍⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
Happy Independent Bookstore Day!⁣