Paperbacks

We spend our afternoons in the library
every book in the poetry section
is smudged with our fingerprints
and the community of regulars
know not to go near the corner table
because we'll be there soon
reading Mojo and Mslexia
and watching people arrive

and leave through the carousel doors.
We have the perfect view
our biros like snipers' rifles.
We know where the wireless hotspots are
we're not afraid to shush people
we eat all our meals here
we check our emails
we make a den out of paperbacks
and snip coupons from the free magazines.