Tools

My uncle, the plumber, taught me that
To change a faucet one needed
To use the proper tools.
Don’t take the pliers when a wrench
Will do the job clean and quick.
Up from the underside of the sink,
A basin wrench with its long neck
Gets you into places otherwise
Inaccessible.

When faced with a problem or 
Frozen nut on a bolt,
Take a break, think it through,
Back then, smoke a cigarette —
He preferred Winstons —
Then look the matter over a
Third time, review the options.
Attack.
Resolve.

He taught me the same
Attention when he taught me
To clean the .22 single shot
Bolt action rifle he gave me
When I was nine.

After firing, and preparing to clean,
Always assume the gun was loaded:
Point it away, point it away.
Pull out the bolt, check the 
Chamber is empty, sight
Down the barrel from the stock.
You want to see light at the end
He said
You want to see the light.
Then you clean the breech: oil and brush.
Push the cleaning rod mounted with a swab
Down the barrel.  From the stock end
Sight down the barrel. Make sure it is clean.
Dry run without the bolt. Reassemble. Store away.

When you shoot, aim only at what you intent to shoot.
Make sure the weapon is clean so it will not jam,
Well made ammo; sights lined up properly
Aim only at what you would intent to shoot,
Even if a dry run and the weapon is unloaded.
Remember, he said, if they come for the Jews,
He told this long, long ago, he’s now long gone,
Make sure your weapon is ready.
Not what a nine year old LA Jewish boy was 
Taught back then.

I’m so sorry so many now need these lessons.
I’d rather they would plumb.