I've always been good
at removing the tags
from Salvation Army purchases
I can slowly peel the old, blue
sticky prices from Syracuse
china without leaving a trace
My specialty is removing
the stubborn bent steel
staples from well
worn chenille shawls
using the heavy
iron letter opener
adopted after
Roger's suicide
it's my job, my offering, my sacrifice
to dig through our used
plastic purchases:
to carefully unfurl
the balled up sport coats,
Christmas tree skirts,
flowered table cloths
and hippie knick-knacks
to meticulously remove
the prices set on
memories, marriages gone bad,
birthday gifts that missed
their mark
we make things old, new again,
to us, and our home
each day we treasure
our memories, make
worth in that which
others throw away
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What a sensitive soul! Hmmm, I really like the ending. Make worth in that which others throw away. It's really positive and uplifting.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at the rich detailed descriptions of your peeling off sticky tags, knowing that I do this on purchases too.
Roger - who is this man? I found the addition of his suicide a bit distracting on this otherwise very sentimental poem. Was he the unknown story behind one of your purchases? Was he a friend who left behind that letter opener? Can you elaborate more? What's the purpose of adding Roger to your motive of marriage?