a writer should never be allowed in a bookstore unattended

and by never be allowed in a bookstore unattended i mean without someone there to provide reason. i should never have been allowed to walk in barnes and noble this afternoon without someone to say: it's ok to buy the softcover instead of the hardcover, it's cheaper; no katie, you don't need another billy collins book; but you already have that mary oliver poem you love in an anthology, you don't need a whole book of her poetry just because you love that poem; don't buy those cs lewis books you've been meaning to read, finish the 5 books you have started and then go to the library; you can just get the small book of maya angelou poems, you don't need the complete collection; you're never going to have that many alcohol options in the house, you don't need "the little black book of cocktails"; you never use your magnetic poetry sets, you don't need a fourth one...

ah but such is life. and so my poetry shelf grows more and more full... i may need to start spilling my poetry over onto the chapbook shelf soon. :)