a lovely couple
I had to take a shit
but instead I went
into this shop to
have a key made.
the woman was dressed
in gingham and smelled
like a muskrat.
“Ralph,” she hollered
and an old swine in a
flowered shirt and
size 6 shoes, her
husband, came out and
she said, “this man wants a key.”
he started grinding
as if he really didn’t
want to.
there were slinking
shadows and urine
in the air.
I moved along the
glass counter,
pointed and called
to her,
“here, I want this
one.”
she handed it to
me: a switchblade
in a light purple
case.
$6.50 plus tax.
the key cost
practically
nothing.
I got my change and
walked out on
the street.
sometimes you need
people like that.
Other works by Charles Bukowski...
