Small Comforts

title poem of the new book; published books are at inkwhisper.gumroad.com

Small Comforts

I met a man who ruled a shelf,
his throne, a can of beans.
He claimed the salt obeyed his will,
and pepper served as queen.

“Behold my empire!” he declared,
“each paperclip aligned!”
The dust did not salute, of course,
but coughed, as if resigned.

Now all that’s left: a sticky note,
three buttons, and some lint.
His kingdom gone, but still it reads:
"Be kind. Replace the mint."