-Apply Within-

I made the decision to Apply Within.

I was too young at the time to do most anything,
but I needed some money

to get the thing my mother said

I didn’t need and my father said

I should listen to my mother.

the thing was too inviting to resist,

but I needed some cash to get it,––

to get it from that place downtown

and into the house.

this thing, this item I longed for
wasn't produced for left-handed kids

or kids my age, or recommended

for kids susceptible to constant scrutiny.
complicated assembly may be required,

but I assumed maybe not.

they said it’s too big.

they said it will never fit.

that it’s poisonous if swallowed,

but there’s no need to hide it under the sink.

so I walked inside to Apply Within

but the guy said: "Get the hell outta here kid"!
because I'd wasted 12 seconds of his valuable

day standing behind the counter where

things were displayed that nobody wanted.

so I didn’t get the thing

I didn't need which cost too much.

but I did make the effort to Apply Within

which qualified me to participate in solidarity
with the gathering of day-workers
at the family's backyard Labor Day festivities.

1953?