Dec 16

Today’s tea was Cinnamon Chai. We had filched cane sugar last night, so were able to have it the way we liked it, all milky and sweetened. It was the perfect break in the middle of a busy Monday morning. We followed it up this evening with Masala Chai at an Indian restaurant we frequent. We’re starting to think cane sugar might be the secret to making it right, because the stuff they gave us wasn’t miles off what we made from the calendar. The spices were a bit different, but otherwise we had it right.

We were at the Indian restaurant for a book club meeting. All two of us. People mock, but you know what? We’ve never had a bad book. One day, we’ll write an article on it. How to create the perfect book club.

So, have a poem about books.

Good Books
Edgar Guest

Good books are friendly things to own.
If you are busy they will wait.
They will not call you on the phone
Or wake you if the hour is late.
They stand together row by row,
Upon the low shelf or the high.
But if you’re lonesome this you know:
You have a friend or two nearby.

The fellowship of books is real.
They’re never noisy when you’re still.
They won’t disturb you at your meal.
They’ll comfort you when you are ill.
The lonesome hours they’ll always share.
When slighted they will not complain.
And though for them you’ve ceased to care
Your constant friends they’ll still remain.

Good books your faults will never see
Or tell about them round the town.
If you would have their company
You merely have to take them down.
They’ll help you pass the time away,
They’ll counsel give if that you need.
He has true friends for night and day
Who has a few good books to read.

Clearly we need to read more Edward Guest. We sort of forget he exists, but next time someone asks why we don’t just put our books in storage, you’d better believe we’ll point at his poem. Because books are friendly things to own. Clearly.