Needle-Nose Pliers by Josh Parish

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Do you know what is never the right tool for the job?

Needle-nose pliers. Anytime I use needle-nose pliers

it is with hopeless resignation. I stare at a thing

needing fixing, shake my head, and say, “I guess I could try

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needle-nose pliers” I do not blame whoever invented them.

They look like a very good tool. Would you like to twist, pull,

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or push something small in a tight little space? Here is a tool

where one end fits in your palm and the other end grabs tiny things.

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In the middle there are even wire-cutters, should you need to cut wire

or something similar. The truth is: Would you like to strip, shred,

or otherwise destroy a thing, plus also pinch all hell out of that

soft fusion of flesh at the base of your index finger?

..

Then here. Here are the needle-nose pliers.

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from “Rattle 79” Spring 2023

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About alicebarrett

Small town writer
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