the oriental rug

he tells me the story
of his oriental
rug.

how he haggled the price,
felt it,
smelled the fibers,
turned it over,
stood back
and nodded, nice.

he told me how
he can tell the difference
between
the real thing
and fake.

no machine made for him.

I've been to turkey, he tells
me,
Istanbul,
Greece.

I know a good rug when I see
it.

please, take off your shoes,
the socks off your
feet,

be careful and

let's walk a around it,
I just had it cleaned.