After Tom Sawyer

The fence was in a state of disrepair
A household with some children going crazy with stir
The self isolation blues reminded one of Tom Sawyer
Inspiration struck: cue a one-click order
Some paint was duly delivered a few days later
You would have liked to tip Amazon's essential worker
But the software's design favored capitalism over labour
But you know, it's really not a lot of money to spend
Further, the property values will work out in the end
Maybe we'll foster some Picassos or Da Vincis
Or rather our own Wizs, Glovers and El Anatsuis
We might even discover a pot of black gold
These minor art pieces, perhaps, a prelude to riches untold
Back to basics, Nyame had suggested, it's about nuts and bolts
The cement of society by way of Home Depots
A saving grace, and a morning's fun activity
Behind the yam, a respite from the outside agony
The memories here are painted in colors at the rainbow's end
Fence painting as a covidious dividend.

Further Reading

• elevator inspectors, Magnus Mills is the Tolstoy of the fence installation trade.
• Fences by August Wilson
  This play was the work of a master and stands out even among his considerable oeuvre. Parenting is a fencewalk. The later movie, featuring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, is a labour of love. That "I ain't got to like you scene" stands in the pantheon.

After Tom Sawyer, a playlist

When conjuring a soundtrack for this note, I could only think of one song to start and end it. Mandrill was a fearsome funk band and a hard act to follow. Fencewalk is their magnum opus to my ears. (spotify version)

• Fencewalk by Mandrill
• Let's Work by Prince
• Come 'N Play by House of Bamba
  A collaboration by my in-laws. They should do this more often.
• Thought@Work by The Roots
• I Go to Work by Kool Moe Dee
• Player's Ballin' by Ohio Players
• Workout by Hank Mobley
• The Work Song by Oscar Peterson Trio with Milt Jackson
• Working up a sweat by First Circle
• Fencewalk (live) by Mandrill

See also: Colors, a playlist (spotify version)

Previously: Nuts and Bolts

Note: a Harry Potter motif was a later addition, The 9 year old insisted on a departure from the original maternal suggestion. Needless to say. I approved of this redirection.

This note is part of a series: In a covidious time.

File under: poetry, life, coronavirus, parenthood, fun, pandemic, art, culture, humour, whimsy, observation, family, Social Living, covidious, toli