The end of the aisle


Many hours I've swam in this ocean of books
through all versions of weather
small children have turned into adults 
with children of their own
there is more than something in that
i was 31 when Dutton's rode in
now i'm 55 and still growing
Richard Pearce brought Cormac Mccarthy in one day
all of it was process
and heart
as customers truly wanted to know what
i liked and why
now the door is shutting down
and the ongoing dance is ending
nothing will replace being surrounded by books
back in the seventies i never knew i would fall
into bookselling
thankfully i parked my carcass
in an independent store
where the flame of knowing was encouraged to burn
retail at times can be murder
but for the most part the music played here
was resonant and ear pleasing.
and the best times were those moments when
turning someone on to an author you cared for.
goodbye stone floor of the west room
my feet have autobiographies written in standing on
you.
goodbye coming in hours before nine o'clock opening
to straighten and shift the paperback fiction section.
in this technical twilight of downloading material
i still passionately advocate the physical feel of a
book
cover and material within
as you participate in today's soiree
continue to appreciate and support the printed word
in all its color and breadth.
23 years of my ongoing process thrived here.
the planet fumbles forward.
the dance continues.

scott wannberg 

March 2008