SpitShine

 

SpitShine

•

he snapped his shine cloth
and shared his stories

tales of joy
tales of pain
of injustice

of his Memphis blues
his beloved big muddy

warm eyes
earthy brown
turbulent as that river

his stare
a deep current
impossible to escape

his voice
a tempered edge
honed by sorrow
sweetened by laughter

broadleaf husky
thick as sorghum
smooth as Beale Street bourbon

his weathered face cut with truth
marked and scarred by years of burden
of witness

each sculpted crease bore testament
to a genuine soul

cracked and seasoned hands
would reach with suffered care
to wrap tailored leather
in polished honesty

callused fingers
yellowed by habit
rolled the rhythm rag
to pull the sheen
with sweat and spit
blood and bone

as if to wipe clear
the broken promises
the failed love

the stain of dirt field
cruel street
back alley

of harsh wisdom
hard learned

the pop and slap
would resonate to fill my ears

the soulful cadence would stir my spirit
lift my worry

and make my step
light as a feather

a spit-shine like no other
will ever be again

• • •

rob kistner © 2008

_____________________

photo above entitled: “routine” — by: Tres

• • •

…poem inspired by read write image #6, found at “readwritepoem”

 

8 thoughts on “SpitShine”

  1. You’ve done a great job here. I loved the way your description of this man related to natural things (as though he was a mud caked shoe himself) and to music, and the uplift at the end.

  2. Hi Rob!

    First, thank you so much for reading my poetry and for stopping by my poetry site! Sorry that it’s been taking me forever to return the favor to everyone by visiting theirs! At least it’s better late than never!

    Second, this poem is very lyrical. I think it is due to the fact that you combined very interesting phrases together such as these stanas:

    “cracked and seasoned hands
    would reach with suffered care
    to wrap tailored leather
    in polished honesty

    callused fingers
    yellowed by habit
    rolled the rhythm rag
    to pull the sheen
    with sweat and spit
    blood and bone”

    Great imagery, and thank you for sharing, Rob! 🙂

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