Water Damage

The rain hit the street like a bucket of nails,

turning the sidewalk to a river of oil.

I stepped from the bar where the light always fails

and felt the cold water begin its slow coil.

A drop hit the toe of my soft, tan boot,

soaking the suede to a bruise-colored gray.

It’s a permanent stain, a dark, heavy root

of a night that I’ve managed to throw all away.

The leather is matted, the nap has gone flat,

and there isn't a brush that can fix a thing like that.