One afternoon
in Dignity Village:
THE MIRACLE OF RUSTY NAILS
Wordless thoughts
shuffle across wet asphalt,
body vacant, bent, defeated.
Life lost her.
With reason, or no reason,
what does it matter?
Bottom is bottom.
A stack of recycle lumber
infested with rusty nails –
“more metal than wood,” Jay grumbled;
slipping the claw of his hammer under a nail
…he gave her hand to the hammer.
infested with rusty nails –
“more metal than wood,” Jay grumbled;
slipping the claw of his hammer under a nail
…he gave her hand to the hammer.
All afternoon she pulled and twisted,
“making real lumber
for making real houses…”
“…real lumber,
real houses…”
Now evening comes
…with a smile.
Rusty nails
in 2x4s and 2x6s
gifting the pleasures
of self-esteem.
…I call it “The Miracle of Rusty Nails.”