I used to buy my meat from Butcher Bubs by the pound
And he had a smile with a few less teeth every time
Till finally there was nothing left to smile about.

“Can’t eat the meat no more,”
Butcher Bubs would say,
“Ain’t got the teeth to chew it.”

Bubs didn’t want to get dentures,
“Ain’t no one gunna chew my food but me,”
He’d say,
“Especially not some well-schooled dentist.”
And he’d spit on the floor when the health inspector wasn’t looking.

I kept going to Butcher Bubs
To buy meat by the pound
And he’d smile with a few less pounds on him every time
Till finally there was nothing left to smile about.

One day, I went to pick up my meat
He’s wife said he finally withered away
But he was hanging about the back if I wanted to say goodbye.

What we leave behind is the fuel for
The Great Work to continue its turning.