By Their Covers

Wade through rivers of dust jackets
Where each volume surfaces linked
To a name that’s linked to a life,

And you start to sense discrete crowds,
To get the sense people, mostly,
Want to wave each other advice

And to profit by the giving.
People do want to help people,
But the wise float by, matted leaves

In the stream of soggy ideas,
And you feel the undertow
Of so many suggestions

Pulling you downstream as well,
You and your advice for hell.