I race around the bookstore,

Looking for my tome.

If I must, I’ll search ten more,

Both near and far to home.

“Sorry that’s too niche for us,

Won’t you try this instead?”

I take a breath, try not to cuss,

“That, I’ve already read.”

It’s the same at every store I go,

Big chain or little nook.

The answer is always a no,

To: “Do you have this book?”

Today though I am full of hope,

Despite the umpteenth time.

Do my eyes deceive me? Nope!

They spot a purple spine.

My heart shakes in my chest,

Like it won’t stay inside.

As I rush close, a man in vest,

We crash as we collide.

“Your pardon, sir, I must beseech,”

We lift ourselves with care.

Both our hands start to outreach,

We lock eyes and we stare.

“I’m sorry, but I saw it first.”

“Why, that is but a lie!

The lilac called to quench my thirst,

It pulled me by my eye.”

Then the man proclaims his due,

“I’ve been looking for a year.”

“Pfft, only one, I’ve searched for two!

In shops both far and near!”

“Clearly you are a man of taste,”

The sir says with a stutter.

“This book is akin to my soul’s paste,

It helped put me together.”

“I know the feeling,” I reply,

“It helped me see the light.”

A kindred spirit, I could cry,

We must resolve this fight.

How can we all leave as a winner?

Then he asks with a coy smile.

“Why don’t we share it over dinner?

My fellow bibliophile.”

I just stand there, mouth agape,

He has left me disarmed.

What has left me out of shape?

His diction or his charm.

As his wry smile starts to wane,

“That would be nice,” I say.

On face, the smile will remain,

“But I must insist to pay.”

He gestures to the violet verse,

As he writes down his digits.

I stand in line with book and purse,

As I begin to fidget.

“See you tonight,” said with a wink.

The gesture warms my core.

I found the book, but I also think,

That I’ve found something more.