the reading room
you caught me in the reading room again
i promise you that i’ve nearly reached the end
what exactly is that thing you’re reading?
baby, if you really want to know…
it’s only a dark cautionary tale
it’s only the story of love that fails
it’s only you
it’s only me
it’s only our lives only written down
you speak as I turn the nightlight out
asking what the story’s all about
you say, do they live happily, and ever after?
or is it a tragedy, some kind of biography?
you ask so I think you ought to know
the brittle page cracks
and crumbles to dust
the words fall in piles around us
the cover is torn, it falls apart
it’s only A Map of England and Wales
it’s only A Boys’ Guide to Sharks and Whales
it isn’t Keats, it isn’t Yeates
it’s only Fifteen Ways to Leave Your Love
so if you’re stuck for something to do
you could do much worse than read a book or two
if you’ve a tough decision to make
you could do much worse than read a book of verse
but baby please DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ