Magpie Tales 150: Patina Was Her Name

patina 

some call it patina. 

I thought it was her 

name.  she calls it poor

and I say rustic, bars

and all.

but rustic won't 

protect us from 

the rain or wind; 

nor will seams

between wooden

planks; 

or cracks

in the door, 

beneath rigid lace, 

translucent as it is

lonely. 

"don't step on 

rusty nails," you 

warn, 

"they, too, 

have patina."

Image by Daniel Murtagh

Shared by Tess Kincaid.

Poem ©2013 R. Burnett Baker