9. THE CANDID MAN FEELS A SICKNESS COMING ON

THE CANDID MAN FEELS 

A SICKNESS COMING ON

The pitchfork was left, I swear, under the shed;

horsehair, a coil of rope, the old bucket, leaking.

-

I had already told that guy from the church I didn't want

to hear anything from him; no advice, no strictures,

no recipes for his disgusting food.

-

One person at a time has always been more

than enough for me; thoughtless to think differently.

Believe me, I could never change my mind. 

We wake up to a Science all our own, and it's

everyday the same  -  no 'Sunday' will make

any difference at all. And no surprise there.

-

If it would ever rain, I'd get to test this roof;

we fixed it last month, and it hasn't rained since.

Not that anyone would notice, but it looks pretty

good from the road. Tar-paper patching, a layer of

metal, and a few new shingles  -  everything good

as it is. What need have I of anything new?

-

What need have I of anything at all?