the duck-and-huddle of the Atomic Age
drove my parents partially underground
to build a cement-block bomb shelter
with a hollow-door shield against Castro’s fierce beard—
a helter-skelter haven for hoarding
leftovers that should have dearly departed:
chipped furniture, glass baluster vases,
and piles of Life, Look, and Seven Sisters
once proudly fanning the walnut veneer
of Mom’s “Early American” coffee table—
ranch un-chic she wedged into that fallout tumble
after family heirlooms turned up at her door
and she had good cents to mix Chinese Chippendale,
Canton blue porcelain and oxblood lamps
with Middle Tennessee antiques and coin silver
shadowboxed against muted charcoal gray.
they were hoarders of 57-year memory.
my possessions accumulate fewer by year,
the odds and ends of what might have been.
what is it to be a professional packer
of this-is-mine-not-yours-it-went-on-my-charge-card-
I-saw-that-painting-first squabbles—
the automaton sorter of broken houses?
am I brave enough to stroke the tiger stripes
of a quarter-sawn oak library table,
where I will dine breakfast-lunch-dinner,
going against the grain that mahogany
is more tasteful, after all, my dear?
Oak is sturdy, and whatever, it’s only stuff.
Photo credit: Marcelo Montecino [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
“Complicated“: Who needs it? I’m downsizing.
I remember those days, Catherine. You’ve captured the essence here, as well as the downsizing ethic, one that I crave right now. Lovely piece. 💘
Thanks. I figure I am 25 years ahead, at least, on downsizing. Happy for your visit!
Loving the new site look!
Thanks. Does it concern you that dates do not appear unless you click on a post? Just curious.
I don’t think so
As usual, I bow in admiration and await news of a forthcoming book!
Thanks, Karen. I think books are on hold until I figure out my busy, but fun job. But this is my way of plugging on a chapbook, bit by bit. I appreciate your support!
Stirred lots of memories! Thanks, Catherine for all your family stories and poems…….and for bringing back so many loving thoughts of family!
Love:
> leftovers that should have dearly departed:
…and
> what is it to be a professional packer
> of this-is-mine-not-yours-it-went-on-my-charge-card-
> I-saw-that-painting-first squabbles—
> the automaton sorter of broken houses?
…and
> Oak is sturdy, and whatever, it’s only stuff.
I appreciate your pulling out details. Such a lift as I find my way through this genre. Bien merci!