Straight Tool and Miss Last Nail

 

Straight Tool and Miss Last Nail

 

Was once a tool

Real sleek steel,

fine for new nails, or fixing a few rails

or just about anything the crew wills-

a fresh prince for the price of fish-

free!

Free like love.

 

So, Straight Tool met Miss Last Nail

At the last corner, where the owner

Was making himself a banister rail.

Now, Tool was just about to drool

The charm in little Miss Last Nail

was too much for Tool-

’s experience and factory advice

and last-minute over-the-counter tips!

Smitten with love and bold of steel

He bowed his clawed head.

But just before he could kneel

a curtsey for little Miss Last Nail

she blurted in pretended disgust

‘After all your playin’ with all other nails, now

You aim to push me down with a little bow?’

 

Straight Tool was taken aback

Humiliated and feeling out of luck.

He flew

off the handle

Was out of use a month’

had picked a depressive dent

and one claw went bent

 

After the encounter

Was just one way to go-

Down.

down the repair road.

Down.

 

If you looked closer

He isn’t straight no more

and can’t tool so well as before.

His handle’s broken

Where love most was.

He don’t look so swell

‘cause he never got cleaned too well

Or touched nice with oil.

 

Now he don’t swing so bold

And whistles no more in the air

For his heart’s gone cold.

And there’s a twisted sense where

used to live Love or warmth or care.

 

When he falls on a nail

Rusty or new or other

He hammers all alike

On and on-

Wishing not for rescue

Promising not

The return rescue of love-

Since that last fall

he fell for little Miss Last Nail.