Rust

Not tidied from the day before
Your tools rest in the dust sprinkled light
Among shavings
That have been hammered through the years.
Slithers of work unseen.
Things I never quite knew.

Nothing fits together.
The uneven shapes of pungent metal
And wood cracked dry
Sprawl around
Among the guesses made.

And ancient contraptions
Of unfathomable use
Sit neglected
Beside old hanging baskets
And watering cans
Prematurely dry.

Tomorrow you will continue
Like before, filing away
Behind the sun-darkened door
Before stepping out into the glaring light
And locking the door firmly shut.
Hanging the rusty key
Out of reach.

But this is a mystery
I am determined to solve
And I will find a way
To polish deeply
Until the copper shines bright.