Last Things

Close the lid on the toolbox, put the nails in a jar

Play that old Hank he had on in the car
The wind in the chimney blows dust in your eye
While you sweep out the ashes from the old man’s last fire
The wall clock’s wound tight, the key’s still in the notch
And there’s a glass on the counter and a bottle of Scotch
It still smells like pipesmoke over there where he sat
You said, I’ll see you later, today you came back

There’s a book on the nightstand with a folded-down page
And a note on the rolltop, Call the drugstore today
The fiddle’s on the back porch with a new set of strings
It’s a haunted old house now, full of last things
His wallet’s on the dresser, ten twenties, three ones
And a picture of you before you moved on
Take the silver, sell the china, put the clothes in a sack
You said, I’ll see you later, today you came back

The wind in the chimney blows dust in your eye
You hear your name in the rain, you turn to reply
Too late, just missed him, there’s his hat

You said, I’ll see you later, today you came back