A New Old Belt Poem by R. G. Bell

The Goodwill store sold me a dead man's belt.

I'd left some trash my darkened closet grows
And passed a chrome rack by the Exit door,
A massed gallows, with one corpse out of place.

A new old belt was proudly hanging there
Proclaiming its name, 'Genuine Leather.'
Factory new, it never had been worn.
A $20 belt for $1.99.

And it fit.

Once a Father'sday/birthday/Christmas gift,
The family thought Granddad could use a new one.

He liked it. He said so. Sincerely.

Later he stuck it on the upper shelf
Of the guestroom closet, curled up
Like an old black cat in his favorite box.

They found it after the funeral
And placed on the mounded Goodwill pile.

I bought this belt for $1.99,
And next time it hangs in The Goodwill store
It will be used, and still $1.99.

R. G. Bell
2022