My father took me to
Guttenberg book warehouse
On Glass and China Street
To buy me books by the kilo.
It was spring.
I was wearing my
New white coat.
I was thirteen.
We walked together
Between rows of dusty books:
Books on the floor, books in
Boxes, books on the shelves.
That New Year he
Had given me,
Exactly what I wanted:
A white coat,
History of Witchcraft,
Rebecca,
Rasputine’s Life
Crime and Punishment.
Esther Kamkar