Playing Joseph

this kid’s got ideas
notices things in
the couplings between
maybe so and no

the first auditions
are a month away
and this year will not
be the same old same

mary with a dolly
joseph with a stupid
staff playing a shepherd
like all the others

not when he shows up
he’s going full bore
carpenter with a
hammer in his belt

and nails in his teeth
a T-square over
one shoulder and a
perfect dovetail joint

pre-cut in cedar
(the tongues and the grooves
dry-fit and ready-to-glue)
over the other