Toenails
by Sam M. Phillips

Look at my fine fingernails,
It never fails
To make me happy
To see them un-diseased,
Of course, I’m less than pleased
With the state of my toes,
Where under nail, fungus grows,
Who knows
If they’ll ever get better?

I fetter
Away time and money
Because they make me unhappy,
Having become infected long ago,
I cannot let them grow
Because the pain is too much,
And they are such
A terrible eyesore.

Maintaining them is a bore,
I cut them red raw,
File them to the core,
Apply ever more
Medicines and lacquers,
Believing that it matters,
That they will improve,
And I’ll actually be able to remove
This painful and unsightly affliction.

***

My debut short story collection is here!

INFINITY AND I: Seventy Science Fiction Short Stories

Get a copy here: INFINITY AND I: Seventy Science Fiction Short Stories