11 FEBRUARY 1995, Page 39

The Safest Place

It's a hygenic lovers' tiff That starts with if and only if And tails off like a doctor's note. How could you write the things you wrote, Scaremongering? I'm sure we'll live.

Thank God my job's repetitive. It keeps me calm — no hurt, no games. I type a list of authors' names, Relish the thought of getting bored. I'm busy here. I can't afford To fall apart or fall behind. Everywhere else you're on my mind; Work has become the safest place. This catalogue, this database, Proves, in a way, that life goes on. Beaumont, Francis. Fletcher, John.

Sophie Hannah