Member Poem

This kid buys my puzzle from a boot sale.
Before he puts his pieces in my hand
he counts out my five hundred. Dazed, I fail
in counsel and he fails to understand.
Kid, that’s your first and my thousandth mistake.
How long do you think you can play that card?
You’d better wise up fast, you’d better take
my word: life’s spelt R I S K. It’s hard
to burst your bubble. But shit happens, man.
If everyone could try before they buy
d’you think I’d be here hawking in the rain?
I bought a picture – cottage and blue sky –
now I’m selling it to you, kid. Good luck.
Look, there’s more. All there. And all for a buck.

(First published in Neologism, February 2018.)