Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » The Screw

The Screw

I see a lone screw laying on a shelf Unassuming, innocent, all by itself, To an unknown it must be missing Something loose, so I am guessing, It appears content, not in the way I am very tempted to throw it away, But as soon as I do, I am convinced, Its reason for being will be evinced. written September 7, 2021

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Krish Radhakrishna

Date: 9/9/2021 3:12:00 PM

This is brilliant and absolutely true! the fear that leads to hoarding!! I now put it in a box and that box gets emptied after two years! kind of time and space management! Very well done!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/9/2021 3:56:00 PM

Thanks, Krish. I have a jar full of keys probably five years old or older. I think I'll dump the whole jar into the trash! Then, if I need one of those keys, I'm going to call you...in the U.K. (Laughing out loud!)

Paul Schneiter

Date: 9/8/2021 6:43:00 AM

Milton, This is a skillfully crafted and amusing expression of truth. It has played out in my life countless times. Thanks for articulating it so accurately and delightfully.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/8/2021 12:21:00 PM

Thank you so much, Paul, for your thoughtful comment. I appreciated your read, and I have been enjoying your poems.

John Lawless

Date: 9/8/2021 4:46:00 AM

Quit screwing around Milt. Put it in that jar of screws and when you find out where it came from go try and find it again....it'll drive ya screwy

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/8/2021 12:30:00 PM

That's probably the problem...I don't have a jar of screws. I have a jar of keys...maybe I'll just put it in with them. Thanks for your read, your thoughts, and your comment, John.

Delice Arleen Skelly

Date: 9/7/2021 10:32:00 PM

I am a thrower outer, and then hubby goes looking for it! lol. Bad habit really...Delice

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/8/2021 12:31:00 PM

Ah, I wish I could be more of a thrower, but I tend to stash things and then can't find them when I need them. I live alone, so I have no one to blame it on! Thanks for your comments, Delice. I appreciate you.

Marikate Kingston

Date: 9/7/2021 6:24:00 PM

If you don't know what it does, put it the drawer. If you don't know where it goes, put it in the drawer. If it may be broken, but you're not quite sure, put it in the drawer. If it lights up, but you don't know why, put it in the drawer. If it's a half a dollar bill, find the other half tape it together, and never put it in the drawer!! Don't we all have that famous kitchen drawer?? (:

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/7/2021 7:29:00 PM

Actually, mine is already quite full. If I needed something I'd never find it in there! LOL Thanks so much for your insightful and funny comment, Marikate.

Shirley Hawkins

Date: 9/7/2021 5:42:00 PM

Ah, so you have a screw loose too! It's true the moment something is thrown away it's needed....

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/7/2021 5:43:00 PM

Thanks so much, Shirley. Yes, more than one person has suggested I might have a screw loose! LOL

Rico Leffanta

Date: 9/7/2021 11:23:00 AM

I suspect Adam realised that after missing his rib?

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/7/2021 11:24:00 AM

Quite possibly, Rico, but interestingly men and women have the same number of ribs. Say what?

Tom Cunningham

Date: 9/7/2021 11:23:00 AM

That lone screw, have spent many an hour thinking where did it come from? I'm with Mike, put them in a container. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/7/2021 11:27:00 AM

See my response to Mike, Tom. I'm just going to leave it alone...at least for a year or two. Thanks for your thoughts.

Mike Gentile

Date: 9/7/2021 11:05:00 AM

Milton, you have so humorously captured a very important lesson! It is one I learned the hardware long ago and hence, I have a little drawer to house such things as errant screws! loved it!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/7/2021 11:26:00 AM

Thanks, Mike. But, I fear I'll wind up with another jar-full like the one filled with keys...keys I know I'll never need again, but can't bear to throw them out. So many friends say to me, "What are all of these keys for?" and I haven't the foggiest notion!