Life’s Little Misdirections 🥀🦋

Straightening Used Nails

straight-en-ing u-sed nails

whenever he hammered two-by-fours, dad reused nails
pulled from old wood. it became my job to flatten the curved spines
of rusted, metal gents with slightly tilted hats
                   i couldn't quite correct.
         but as their chiropractor,
each postured between thumb
and forefinger, plying          
any flat surface:                    
the work bench, driveway,
garage wall or nearby tree.
my instrument took aim, became
more true. i learned not to flail
like a god of thunder, but
         strike harder than a gentle
tap, tap, tap-ping --
awkwardly roll, pin, strike.
roll, pin, strike! hopeful
they wouldn't squirm. hopeful
i could produce enough before
he caught up, note,
what's the hold up?
take away my pride,          
left to devour                    
my oozing                    
blood.                    

a left-handed maestro with up-tempo flair
whacked away unflinchingly, deftly smoothing
the rust-crusted,
stubborn little
pegs obeying.
dad directly
rap, rap, rap-ped
each into the
yellow hearts
of repurposed
wood, stood a
right frame in
under half of
a day: erected
the tool shed,
our doghouse,
properly lay
a bed frame
for mom's
tiger lilies,
while i
sucked
a raw
thu
m
b.

4.28.20
6.21.20 edit
8.13.20 edit
Brian K. Compton

honorable mention for 'Shadows and Light' when smushed to fit 40 line max. requirement.
Now, straightened out to length of:
51 lines.

I got the idea from 'flatten the curve' and went in on this with a non-pandemic direction, since I have a better handle on memories from childhood than imagination about how communities are trying to social distance and not overwhelm hospitals.

Maybe, I'll take another stab at flatten the curve another day.