everything in its place

she alphabetizes the books 
in her small library nook 
by title and category, and if
it applies, by author as well
with some shelves dedicated
to vinyl records, cds and dvd /
blu ray films, also sorted
accordingly; for good measure,
cataloged electronically on 
spreadsheets that she keeps 
on her phone, a ready reference 
just in case, you never know…
you know?
with so much time and energy 
devoted to caring for her collections
she barely has time to enjoy their
contents, to peruse her beautiful
book pages, or listen to a favorite 
tune, or sit long enough to catch 
a flick, start to finish, without 
interruption or distraction…still, 
she fancies herself organized
to a tee, because being so feels safe
and settled; helps erase the chaos 
ping-ponging in her scattered brain; 
things in their place keeps her sane
or at least implies as much; 
a secret, her secret, hidden to 
those who only judge books by 
their covers, where eccentricity
is a gentler reality to madness

-kat

NaPoWriMo 2023 Challenge Day Twenty-Eight: write your own index poem. You could start with found language from an actual index, or you could invent an index, somewhat in the style of this poem by Kell Connor.