the third hand store

i stopped into

a third hand store along

the boulevard.

i asked the lady

behind the counter what
makes this store

different from

the secondhand store.

oh, she said,

we don't wash our clothes,

or empty the pockets

before we sell them.

if you took your pants

off right now,

we'd put them on that stack

over there

and tag them,

i mean as long as there are

no weapons

in them, or explosives.

hmmm.

how much would you give

me for the pants i'm wearing then?

just out of curiosity.

hmm. let's see, turn around,

okay, once more.

move the zipper up and down,

okay, good.

two bucks, maybe three.

there's some stains on the front,

were you eating fried

chicken lately?