Goodwill Coat

[couchgrouch]

Goodwill CoatThere were clothes n pans n paintings, all with yellow tagsand I found an old pea-coat, on the clearance rackits collar was threadbare, its seams were coming apartbut deep in its pocket, I found an old purple heartI paid my four dollars, then I asked the clerkwho donated that coat, if he knew where they werehe gave me a number, said I'd find someone therejust touching that medal I knew, I wasn't fit to wearthat Goodwill coatmade of time and woola sad midnight blue, missing a button or twoI felt the past's endless pullin that Goodwill coatwell, a nice young lady, answered the phonesaid the coat was her granpa's, at the Desert View homeI found that old sailor, trapped in a wheelchairblank walls in his room, yesterday in his starethough he sat there silent, with bones fragile as strawhis face found its smile once more, when his good eye sawthat Goodwill coatmade of time and woola sad midnight blue, missing a button or twohe felt the past's endless pullin that Goodwill coatthe view in his window, was just rock and dirtto him the seven seas were, the salt of the earthhe took that coat and medal, and felt them in his handsit brought back dusty mem'ries, of blood on foreign sandsI went back to that thriftstore, and paid two dollars morefor a large oil painting, of a western shoreI hung it on the wall by, that old sailor's bedso he could sit there, and watch an ocean sunsetwearing that Goodwill coatmade of time and woola sad midnight blue, missing a button or twohe felt the past's endless pullin that Goodwill coat(c)2005 Robert George