A TRUE STORY FROM THE BOOK OF STANSKI
It is straight from the gospel of truth
I see a band of sky blue on the horizon
Three feet wide and startling bright
Below is the gray almost motionless inland sea
Above is the same gray in the form of clouds
There is little evidence of the sun trying to break through
I am lifted – discovery, reward, and the day just beginning
I think back to childhood fixing my bike
Greasing brakes, tightening spokes
Adjusting handlebars, seats, and chains
Everything is perfect until I take it around
The corner onto a fresh tar and stoned street
I slid sideways to a halt –my bike in another direction
Looking at tar and blood, I spot a dollar bill
It lays in the gutter, clean, abandoned and still
Forgetting my wounds I pick it up, only to hear
“That is mine young man, I just dropped it”
A little lady walks over, claims, and takes it
Walking home with my bike, I calculate the needed repairs
My body will heal, the two-wheeler needs fixing
Mom wants me to rake leaves
Gathered and cluttered between two garages
My first sweeping motion uncovers a ten-dollar bill
There is no little old lady there to claim it
I give it to mom, who is hanging the laundry
On one of the four lines crossing the backyard
She is thrilled and then notices my wounds
I finish raking, fix my bike and dress the scrapes
I am sent to the florist to pay a bill
Be sure and get a receipt; I will I promise
The sky was the pretty blue I saw this morning
Stanski
October 4, 2022, ^
Steve Haarman 