Spit Shine

March 15, 2015 by Eric Walton in poetry

Old towels torn

into even strips

and a dented

tin of Kiwi, black

you turn the

silver key

and wherever you sit

becomes an

esoteric space,

an escape from

irrelevance

and servitude

keep that towel

a' snappin,

spit shine

long ago a drill sergeant

taught you the trick,

a sure way to heal

the sickness you feel

so you may pass

through the fright

of any long, dark night

keep that towel

a' snappin,

spit shine

so polish away

the grime

into a pride

you can see

your face in

you've done it

all your life

transformed

trash into treasure,

boys into men

hold high your head

defeat has taught

you to know victory

rejection has taught you love

when the world doesn't

always fit you like a glove

keep that towel

a' snappin,

spit shine.

~Eric Vance Walton~