11,918. ANDIRON

ANDIRON

In spirit, the lesee pays nothing,

and the property runs to the line

of the fence. Inside, there's a nice

workshop, with a nice vice, a good

grip, a fireplace, andiron, and a poker.

A very large sitting room, and a broad

window to look out from when that

fireplace fire is roaring. A nice place

to be. You see?

-

It wasn't like Rome was built in a day.

That was something they used to

mutter about, back when I was a

kid. You don't hear it much anymore.

Like that magic water that used to

fast-grow Moon ferns, it's all gone.

Anyone could build Rome now in

two seconds if they set out to do so.

-

I found, on the wall, a little shelf too;

it holds a piece of etched metal that

I can't figure out; something from

1917, looking like maybe a helmet

and a sword, together, and a ring of

words, I think mentioning valor and

service. It's all pretty worn and faded,

as if someone endlessly rubbed it down

with a cloth  -  for how many years, 

I don't know.

-

There used to be a song, a long time 

ago, maybe 1967, or so; by the Young 

Rascals. It was called 'Groovin' and 

played everywhere forever, for that 

Summer and that fall anyway. There

was a confusing line it it, after a bit

about realizing, enjoying, and staying

happy and fulfilled. It went, 'You and

me, endlessly, grooving...' I always and

heard it as 'You and me and Leslie, 

grooving. I was felt compelled to ask,

'Who's Leslie? and what's he doing 

in this picture?