Bookshelves

Day 12

Today my husband and I will drive to Home Depot
and pick up three boxes of quality wood
and while the dog watches from her place near the window
we will put together twenty-six feet of shelves
and try not to snipe at each other.

We have already put together three beds
two storage units
one desk
one office chair
after packing our entire lives up to be delivered to this house.

I miss the puzzle pieces of the essays I used to write
moving sentences around to see where they fit best
if they matched the shades of their surroundings.

Words have always been a panacea
for eighth grade anger and tenth grade heartbreak
for all the shivas I’ve stood
and the hurt of friends who aren’t.

Now words are a livelihood
even if they are not a profession
even if they do not generate income
even if they do not pay our bills.

Today my husband and I will build bookshelves
and hope them into a fort
an enclave
a palace
where only we have the key.