The Garage Sale Poem by Bob Gibson

I went to a garage sale yesterday
it was a deceased estate
i saw a load of things i liked
and thought that this is great

i bought some tools and a radio
a spade, a rake and a hoe
then i stood back and looked around
a mans life is here! thats what i found

people barganing over this or that
a walking stick, a trilby hat
i knew this man had led his life
for the last two years without his wife

after fifty years he was alone
in this place they called their home
no baking smells permeate the air
no perfume or bra left on the stair

no goodnight dear or loving hug
sat in a chair staring at the rug
Oh! yes he had food he could exist
but his pills in the morning? who would insist?

he just faded away no will to live
he'd given everything he'd had to give
the real treasures have gone with him
thats the memories of him and Kim

what is left has no price at all
the proceeds going to ST Paul
if your looking down at this young fool
i'll treasure the radio and every tool