Grooming with Nail Clippers

After barefoot, grump and gomp

the toenail clipper is echoing

itself in the wood floor, trimming

impact ridges off outer nails.

The oblique rudder lever mis-thumbed

against its chisel opposite

crimps awry, gets re-occluded

biting corners off middle dabs.

Splitch! The entire plier skimming

under the sofa—up-heave sofa

to recover crossed arms askew

and redeploy to crop some more,

embracing your knees in opposition

you show inner thigh, and lift

toe-horn turrets which will grit

the flooring with grey beetle bix.

Les Murray