The Shovel

There, in the old gray shed, I spotted it, beside the window, hanging on a nail. With sadness, I remember it so well from that September day so long ago. An old, small shovel used, then put away... one caked with salty tears, encrusted earth, there left to hang in silent memory of its sad job from many years before. Beside the old stone wall, neath planted grass, and buried there that dark and mournful day; our twenty years of heartfelt, happy thoughts lay with him in his grave...and in our hearts. Yes, there it is...our grave for Charlie cat. There, in the old gray shed, I spotted it... the dirt still clinging there upon its blade. But now, the spring is here, perhaps its time. A scraping of this crusted shovel, yes... perhaps it's time to scrub and make it clean; grant its rejected purpose a new life. Dig in and plant new flowers 'round his grave. March 11, 2019 ~4th Place~ Premiere Contest: A Scraping of Shovels Sponsor: John Lawless Judged: 03/16/2019