I want to say sorry     for staring

by sorry I mean     you’ve occupied

my entire peripheral view     my eyes

couldn’t avert      by that I mean

it isn’t your fault      you are tall

or maybe I mean to say    you look like

my grandfather     with your big head

& narrow shoulders     meaning I am

a bit scared of you      which these days

probably means you look interesting

with your brown suit the calico cat

hiding behind the hem of your trousers

your heavy shoes       how each floorboard

announced your arrival      by that I mean

to say     that’s how he looked like

before he died      & with that I don’t mean

to scare you     I mean I hope     you finish

all those books you’re about to borrow

sixteen beeps from the scanner     which means

I hope you find      what you are looking for

you have so many to go through

which probably means        I should stay seated

their spines sing       as you load them

on your trolley       the floor       the walls

are groaning as you wheel them out.