to the victors go the spoils

unemployment became my lot
so my friends became my aid
to make a garage sale become my income
in which my belongings became my trade

my table became a tripod
so that the day'd become fond memory
of working hard that became reward
when lamps and teapots became their bounty

...

{i wrote this last september, and planned to post it then, too. but then i ended up not having the garage sale, because i was offered some freelance work and had no time. so all that stuff awaits spring in bins tucked away in my basement. these two girls and i worked our butts off, getting rid of so many things i no longer want or need. it was like a great weight was lifted. letting go is the best part. and it wasn't just hard work. it was fun! each of them found a small treasure that they said they would have been eyeing if they were at someone else's garage sale. so when the day was done, i sent them on their way with their parting gifts. it was the very least i could do for their help.}