-suffer the children through small inconveniences-

                home from the corner store

                and the box has a small hole in it.

                I didn't notice as I pulled it from the shelf

                ignoring the other boxes of cold, dry cereal,––

                colorful displays hawking sweetness and ballplayers.

                It doesn’t appear to be a clean perforation

                as if retail sabotage had taken place, 

                nor is there excessive gnawing evidence

                as in rodent mischief,

                but more like some sort of shelf damage

                although all the above are possibilities

                at "Chasidor Leo's Market" across the street

                from the backstop in the early 50's.

                giving it the once-over, the rest of the box looks okay.

                the flat orange color is pleasing to the eye.

                nice illustration, sanctioned by Stan Musial swingin’ away

                regardless of factual inconsistencies.

               (how I love the left-handers)

                looks like good contact. nice form, too.

                don’t get to see much of Stan "The Man" Musial.

                National League. Saint Louis Cardinals. I’m not going back.

                a small strip of scotch tape will do the trick and then

                it's a bike ride to the city Dump on Pine Street with Ernie Carrocelli

                in search of frame-rail reflectors and other essential enhancements.