the fluid

burnt to sienna richness

oozes

seeps

drips

runs

pours

streams into the drip pan

as you

(in your ymca t-shirt

and paint spattered shorts)

loosen

each

of

s

e

v

e

n

t

e

e

n

bolts

why seventeen? i ask

(i love to watch you work)

it’s a mystery… you say

you are a mess

covered in slick brown oil

still warm from the long drive home

it’s as good as a spa treatment

you say

wincing

the burnt

bloody

fluid fills the drip pan

once

again

nearly two gallons

you work patiently

carefully

one

by

one

loosening

each

of

s

e

v

e

n

t

e

e

n

bolts.

the drip pan off, you change the filter in minutes.

these are the moments i love you most.

small muscles in your forearm

twitch and pop

no complaints

just good clean grease

simplicity

focus

and the patient

replacement

of

s

e

v

e

n

t

e

e

n

slippery

bolts.

fl
2001_07