Protection

I love my little pocket knife!

 I bought a knife at a truck stop 

Somewhere in the middle of New Mexico around midnight 

Pretty 

With holographic colors, shimmering pink and purple with hints of copper

Small and compact

The lady behind the counter

Rang it up and said

“You got a nice one. It’s funny, guys get them to collect and girls get them to protect.” 

I laughed, stopped for a moment and realized maybe she was right 

I put the blade in the pocket of my olive green book bag I got from target 

Carried it with me on the road

For protection 

It sits silently

In its sharpness

as I sleep in friends houses 

I came home

Where I keep it now in a small drawer of an antique desk

A family heirloom

It sits on top of a collection of 

alterations 

A blade protected