BEING KAREN

Second hand is a cold term, these books have been loved and now are moving on to new lovers. ‘You are the only person I know who reads poetry’. A phone call from a friend who is helping another friend pack up the home of her parents; both of whom had been life long academics at Melbourne University. The house looks like an opium dream I might have, every room crammed with books and the daughter begging me to take as many I want to. I am open mouthed and shocked that she can’t