people getting shot in Minnesota.
I want books that argue with death.
I bought some classics
at Five Below
A Christmas Carol
and Frankenstein.
A book of criticism
at Barnes & Noble
by the mall.
Some randos
from Dollar Tree
off Route 441.
I fake reiki
in the false calm
of January.
I don’t like knowing
my actions will shape my daughter.
And I don’t like knowing
that even my best ones
will still hurt her
a little.
So I buy books
to be better,
and show her that life
is about learning.