The dark sky unleashes a deluge

as I stand before a bookstore

that's next to a subway station.

Why would it be there, of all places?

I enter, and my vision is still blurry.

The shop is dimly lit, but filled

with rows of full shelves.

I scan them, hoping to find—

Yes! They're here!

Those paranormal books from Time-Life—

those black, hard covers ...

I'd recognize them anywhere.

Wait ... Are these the right editions?

No ... The covers and titles don't match,

and the contents don't match the ones I own ...

Just like those other bookstores I was brought to—

one brightly lit, another a warehouse ...

And, as before, I'm crestfallen:

I know I can't take these with me ...

But that doesn't stop me

from visiting this same store again ...