Lined up in rows upon the shelf
With tales as old as time itself
Of battles lost and monsters slain
And wizards fighting with an elf

That heady scent of volumes bound
Lingers within the air around
Augments my soul with every breath
Such sense of calm is rarely found

Eager to tour the worlds within
A sea of words to dive right in
With fingers running down her spine
I take one with a childish grin

Our first contact shakes up the air
I’m sure you sense the love we share
Our chemistry is physical
Something no other can compare

All this smart tech is really cool
Exciting us, it makes us drool
But when it comes to books, my friend
My preference is a bit old-school

The peace of paper I enjoy
As I read through the villain’s ploy
These taps and swipes feel virtual
These shiny toys are slyly cloy

Owning the latest is a dream
Distractions are a constant theme
Connections disconnecting us
A side-effect, unwitting scheme

My every wish, these books do serve
My full attention they deserve
Respect the author’s diligence
Nothing should let my focus swerve

A friend in need, a book stays true
No batteries to die on you
It’s always there within your reach
To partner with your favourite brew

~ Yousuf Bawany – March 2018 ~