pirates

at the hardware store
you see a group
of men and women
who appear
to be pirates. but it's
the middle of town,
and the sun
is shining. you are
buying a bucket
of paint
to freshen up
a room. they are
buying shovels
and rope, wire
and nails.
they are dressed
in leather, with eye
patches and one
has a spindle leg.
the women are busty
wearing vests
and large hoop
earrings. there is
gold fillings
in their teeth.
when one of them sees
you standing in line
he looks at your bucket
of paint and says,
get the eggshell
instead of the flat
finish, it cleans up
more easily,
especially blood,
which makes all of
them laugh and laugh.