Because I grew up with my grandpa
I know that a hammer has cheeks
a pair of pliers a nose
and a monkey wrench a jaw

I know that the ends of a saw blade
are called the heel and the toe
and the C part of a C-clamp the throat

In my playground of grandpa’s tools
there were bodies and shoulders
mouths and teeth
feet and shoes

And every tool was stronger than the next 
more purposeful
more alive

As a little boy with my grandpa 
in the workshed
I could sometimes forget 
that my father had gone off to war

—First published in Connecticut River Review (2014); republished here by author’s permission

Bio: Jack Cooper