PURCHASE
by Robert L. Penick
I knew I’d need a cane someday
so I picked one up
at the Catholic thrift store.
Admired its heft and
sturdiness. You could go off
to war leaning on a cane
like that, you could
circumnavigate the Earth
with that lumber in hand.
It was pitted, marked with
scars and dings, the former
owner now dead,
I realized.
I put it back
among the old radios
and knick-knacks,
walked outside, surveyed
the blue sky.
Then walked back in,
made my investment
in the future.
_____________________________________________________
Robert L. Penick’s writing has appeared in many literary
journals including The Hudson Review, North American Review,
and Quiddity. More of his work can be found on his website.
◄ Previous page Apple Valley Review, Spring 2020 Next page ►
I knew I’d need a cane someday
so I picked one up
at the Catholic thrift store.
Admired its heft and
sturdiness. You could go off
to war leaning on a cane
like that, you could
circumnavigate the Earth
with that lumber in hand.
It was pitted, marked with
scars and dings, the former
owner now dead,
I realized.
I put it back
among the old radios
and knick-knacks,
walked outside, surveyed
the blue sky.
Then walked back in,
made my investment
in the future.
_____________________________________________________
Robert L. Penick’s writing has appeared in many literary
journals including The Hudson Review, North American Review,
and Quiddity. More of his work can be found on his website.
◄ Previous page Apple Valley Review, Spring 2020 Next page ►
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Apple Valley Review:
A Journal of Contemporary
Literature
ISSN 1931-3888
Volume 15, Number 1
(Spring 2020)
Copyright © 2020
by Leah Browning, Editor.
All future rights to material
published in the Apple
Valley Review are retained
by the individual authors
and artists.
www.applevalleyreview.com
A Journal of Contemporary
Literature
ISSN 1931-3888
Volume 15, Number 1
(Spring 2020)
Copyright © 2020
by Leah Browning, Editor.
All future rights to material
published in the Apple
Valley Review are retained
by the individual authors
and artists.
www.applevalleyreview.com
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