She used that metal spatula to scrape my cuticle 

She had her buffer tool out 

Filing and buffing and clipping

All to make my nails beautiful

She must have hit a nerve in my thumb 

It hurt so bad!

I withdrew my hand and said, “Ow!”

She didn’t even notice 

The other women looked at me like I was dumb 

I was a manicure novice

But to me these practices are the oddest 

Much akin to all the nails I notice in the street 

When I ride my bike, they seem to peak

Strewn along the sidewalk 

Along the overpass 

Among the weeds and glass 

Sometimes I stop to pick them up 

I’d hate for one to get stuck – in a tire somewhere 

Some are rusty

Others dusty 

Some are spiraly, some straight, some short, some long 

All useful for something 

I haven’t seen any painted 

Trying to be where you aren’t and trying to change what is 

Requires skill of the manicurist

Or a careless roofer

Nails are for holding things together 

And protecting fingertips 

Cuticles, dead skin, and rust 

Happen to all of us 

And don’t bite your nails

Pick up the sharp tip if you see one in the street 

Rubber on a wheel of some sort they never fail to meet 

You don’t need any man made tools for a makeover 

Your natural beauty and utility prevail