86

I sit on the porch and clean
My gun piece by piece first the
Receiver then the rotary magazine
Then the operating rod and the
Small valves like the chambers of
The heart. The rotary magazine
Seems to stick as I reinsert it so I
Get oil and a cloth and work it
Over until the action is fluid. Then
I get wood treatment and I take
The long joined piece of the stock
And the misshaped butt and rub
The wood with oil and reattach it.
Finally I affix to the iron end stub
A small bayonet. This is for if the
Shot should bring the animal
Down maybe hitting only an artery
Or the spine but not kill it in which
Case we use the bayonet as a mercy
And an expedient. I stand the rifle
Against the facade and sit a while
In the yellow atmosphere out here.