Needle-nose Pliers

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

needle-nose pliers.” I do not blame whoever invented them.
They look like a very good tool. Would you like to twist, pull,

or push something tiny in a tight space? Here is a tool
where one end fits your palm and the other end grabs tiny things.

In the middle are even wirecutters, 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 cushion of flesh at the base of your index finger?

Then here. Here are the needle-nose pliers.

Originally published in Rattle