Coating

The toolbox has been sitting on the wood

through every rain we had since late July.

I told myself I’d move it if I could,

but watched the water pool and then go dry.

The silver coating’s flaking off in strips,

like sunburnt skin that’s ready to be shed.

A rough and orange scab is at the tips,

showing how the grit has started to spread.

It was supposed to stay the same for years,

zinc and steel against the heavy air.

Now the hinge just grinds against my ears,

rusting through the things I left out there.