Gruff old gnome
\nsitting on the small chair
\nin the entry way to his hardware store<\/p>\n
Christ, Eddie, did you see the tree
\nblew down up the street by the bank
\ngot her cleaned up by noon
\ntook half the works department acourse<\/p><\/blockquote>\nHis left eye is puffy
\nperhaps with age
\nor pinkeye
\nor a skin ulcer
\none of those diseases people
\ndon\u2019t get any more<\/p>\nWhat can I do you for<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
He starts a squeaky deep laugh
\nthat quicky turns to a cough
\nand he cones his fist over it
\nand turns to the street
\nuntil it passes<\/p>\nInside
\nthe store is jammed
\njammed with tiny things
\nwith handles
\nand without:
\nawls
\nbuckets
\ncan openers
\ndishes
\negg cups
\nfunnels
\ngarbage cans
\nhacksaws
\nigniters
\njack knives
\nkettles
\nlocks
\nmattocks
\nnails
\noarlocks
\npry bars
\nquart sealers
\nrakes
\nsaws
\ntressles
\nutility knives
\nvalves
\nwatering cans
\nX-acto knives
\nYo-yos
\nzippers<\/p>\nSo you got any change
\nI\u2019ll hafta go the the bank
\nto break
\nanything bigger than a ten
\nyou got change
\ngood
\ntaxes\u2019ll break a small
\nbusiness you know
\none of the reasons
\nI\u2019m retiring
\nspend some time
\nwith the missus
\nyep
\nnobody wants this old store
\nclose her down
\nend of the month
\nand twenty-four cents change
\nI don\u2019t say haveaniceday
\nthe way those smiley clerks do
\nin the big stores
\ncan\u2019t afford it
\ngood day come again<\/p><\/blockquote>\nHe goes back to his chair and watches me
\nwalk away
\ndown the street<\/p>\nSee if they’s still any sawdust there<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
he shouts after me<\/p>\n
He starts a squeaky deep laugh
\nthat quicky turns to a cough
\nand he cones his fist over it
\nand turns to the street
\nuntil it passes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gruff old gnome sitting on the small chair in the entry way to his hardware store Christ, Eddie, did you see the tree blew down up the street by the bank got her cleaned up by noon took half the … Continue reading