the basement reading room

she was a hoarder,

this

woman i dated for a few

years

at the Chesapeake Ranch

Estates,

but i didn't mind her clutter

and firetrap

house at all.

the floors and stairways

were

filled with old

books and magazines,

clothes

and shoes

from a different era.

bent forks

and spoons, chipped

dishes

and cups. but

once i got used to the smell

of dust

and mildew,

i'd throw down one

of her horse blankets

and get lost in the basement

for hours

reading old Life Magazines,

National Geographic,

and Look.