library

happiness is here.
the undiscovered books,
vaulted and accessible by escalators
where children discover the joy
of infinite steps.
parents discover adults such as me
do not mind.

happiness is here.
the warcraft 50 somethings
headphones and mouse and -
wait, was that? – yes, it looks like
a footrest for comfort.
in the study space.
where we’d be writing an important thesis
or dissertation, had
he not been enjoying the battle.

happiness is here.
someone’s lost grandma
is plugged into a windows pc,
connected to the genealogical descendant
of the dewey decimal system,
spewing her imagination onto a screen
where bright lighting allows her to
explore all that it means to be connected.

happiness is here.
they had a mac,
and books, and maybe even some headphones.
but they were chatting with each other,
totally canadian and aware that the chatter
shall not be too loud, as per what social mores
exist to prevent disturbing others.
one hour. two. maybe three. work? not done.
relationship work? check.

happiness is here.
asleep, next to the chinese community newspapers,
where it is warmer, quieter,
and frankly, smells nicer,
better than the corner bank cove
or the closed for the weekend business
that might have provided otherwise
shelter.

happiness is here.
the assortment of characters,
diverse as the books.
“the politics of taxation in canada”
or some assortment of hobby craft manuals.
the theses written,
languages learned,
ideas discovered,
truths revealed.

my identity card is my access key
to a wonderful world.