As a child I loved the glass boxes
where you could fish for toys.
I would put a nickel in the slot,
turn cranks to position the claw,
press the “grab” button, and watch
my red car fall back into the pile.

Then I’d beg for another nickel.

Like President Bush, striving to find
something to call “victory” in Iraq,
I would keep trying and failing.

My mom stopped giving me nickels.

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