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A Whetstone for the Mind

Sam’s collected knives for 50 years
and has 200, maybe more, relics
from the Civil War and before.
Someone gave him his first knife
when he was 30 as a gift but
he can’t recall who it was.
He hopes he will remember.
 
It’s been many years since Sam
has added a knife to his collection
but long ago he catalogued
every knife he owns, listing each
by provenance, date acquired,
who he bought it from except
of course that first knife
he hopes he will remember.
 
Until a year ago, he sharpened
at least five knives a week
on a special whetstone.
He has never used a knife
but he believes every knife
should always be its sharpest.
 
Sam told his grandson Mike
that a knife is like a mind.
It must be ready to use.
The problem is, he told Mike,
at age 80 Sam has yet to find
a whetstone for the mind.
 
 
Donal Mahoney

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