Deal maker — Summary

Dave BontaCheerful

all the ire I have seen did little

but dinner and discourse give me all I want

a pair of old shoes which fit old things

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The speaker looks back over the anger they have witnessed and decides it accomplished very little. Against that, they set something modest: good food and good talk. Those two things, the poem says, give them everything they want. The title, "Deal maker," frames this as a kind of bargain. The speaker trades away outrage and takes contentment in return.

The last image is the warmest. A pair of old shoes "which fit old things" suggests comfort and familiarity, things worn in until they suit the wearer. The line may also hint at the speaker's age, or at a preference for the settled and well-used over the new. Judging by the wording, the speaker isn't bitter about giving up anger. The tone is relaxed and a little wry.

The mood is quiet and content. Short lines and plain words mirror the idea: nothing is rushed, nothing is showy, and the poem seems happy to stop once it has said what it needs.

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