Saturday, November 07, 2020

A RUSTED SCREW

by Richard Matta




forgotten will be the steel
grip, the battering the head 
and threads took as it 
held fast to secure and preserve
as best it could under relentless 
stresses seen and silent

for a rusted screw won’t 
leave in peace—
it bleeds and stains without
regard, it’s red head strips
leaving stubborn shaft, requires 
special tools to drill it out
and that’s all we’ll remember


Richard Matta grew up in New York, attended the University of Notre Dame, and is now living in San Diego, California. His work is found in San Diego Poetry Annual, Dewdrop, Little Old Ladies (humor), and Healing Muse.