odd little place
nestled
among
ohio’s hills
a general store
ran
by
the appearance
of
its owner
for
decades
upon
decades
as would be expected
everything
you might fancy
was
available
some things
i hadn’t seen
since
my youth
were
readily available
enamored
by
this relic of time
and
its owner
i asked
to take his photo
he said
most certainly
but said
just one moment
he went
into
another room
i noticed him
slicking down his hair
for
the picture
i
also noticed
a calendar
with
days x-ed out
after
taking his portrait
i
inquired
about the calendar
he said
i’m marking the days
till
my death
curious
i inquired
when might that be
he said
i don’t know
the marks
are to remind me
to celebrate
each day
as if
the
last