Ode to a Rusty Spinner Rack

In my memory, a dim-lit store,
By the counter, near the door,
Stands a guardian of fantastic lore,
A rusty spinner rack, that kids adore.

From ’70s days when I was young,
Its creaky arms my heartstrings strung,
Spinning tales in colorful hues,
Of caped crusaders and cosmic crews.

Rusty now, but gleaming then,
It housed the minds of comic book men,
Kirby’s Gods and Ditko’s dreams,
Cosmic rays, and optic beams.

Each spin was a treasure, an endless quest,
For evildoers never rest.
With GL’s ring or Mjolnir’s might,
The Darkness was banished by the light.

Your wire pockets held endless themes,
Spun worlds of wonder, fueled my dreams
With covers bright and brave and bold,
With secret wars and legends told.

Now in my eyes your colors fade,
But in my heart you’ve always stayed.
From thwip and snikt to Hulk’s great roar,
You were the sound to every score.

In you I found the Justice League,
And mutant rights, and tense intrigue.
I swore by Krypton, Cap’s great shield,
And a universe would be revealed.

The Flash’s speed and Shang-Chi’s grace,
Each corner box a familiar face
From Gotham’s streets to Asgard’s skies,
Magic realms immersed my eyes.

You spun me stories, week by week,
Your stacks were intricately deep,
With Heroes for Hire, DC’s Dark Knight,
And Daredevil’s senses, but never his sight.

Now rust and creaks will tell your tale,
Of countless turnings, without fail.
Through decades past, you’ve stood your ground,
A time machine where dreams were found.

Though you may rust and slowly bend,
Your tales of heroism never end.
For every creak and every spin,
New dreams, new worlds, may now begin.

So here’s to you, my metal friend,
Your spinning days have come to an end.
But in each comic, dusty, worn,
A universe you held was born.

O spinner rack, in you I trust,
Though covered now in time’s soft dust,
You hold the lore, the dreams intact,
Of every comic’s faded tract.

From ‘70s dawn to modern day,
Your tales of wonder still hold sway.
So rust away, but never lose,
The magic spun by your brown screws.

So here’s an ode, my endless cheer,
To you, old friend, I shed a tear.
You’ve spun my world, you’ve shaped my past,
In your embrace, my dreams were cast.

For you, old friend, forever stand,
A portal to some faraway land.
With every spin, a dream was born,
And in your absence, my heart’s still torn.

by Herm (2012/07/21)