At the Goodwill Monday 2021
At the Goodwill Monday 2021
A. At The Goodwill
To sift through toys as if an ancient grain
and disinfect the mattress of these beds
many dolls who seem to have lost their heads
into the trash a jacket with a stain.
In boxes hidden from our view to go
to Goodwill to donate what we find dull
there lost in stacks of enameled pan skull
among the coffee mugs once used for show.
An old worn leather couch near curtain rod
just sits out back near door for donation
around the block a tent made of grey tarp.
These years rode upon these items roughshod
a slightly worn “History of our Nation”
go back to when these new shoes made us sharp.
B. Monday
A frequent turn around of selection
you notice woman wearing your old scarf
the one you wore the night we met on wharf
a sort of bright paisley resurrection.
Happy to finally remove clangers
a man is trying on your son’s Converse
to cedar bookshelf where one might find verse
hours and hours of pushing hangers.
One spends these hours alone or with children
push to find denim jacket you wanted
maybe some patches already sown on.
A glass reminder of how we have been
household items we found we exalted
once held close to our chest but now are gone.
C. 2021
A snapshot of our daily existence
once too baggy, too tight, out of fashion
reminders of when we lacked compassion
time to remove old things at a distance.
Spend Monday at our local Goodwill Store
the ghost of sports jackets worn by fathers
wooden spoons never broken by mothers
one day a week to fill our carts with more.
To wonder if you’ll see this junk again
forgetting when we held this Doily tight
finding the treasures of our forever.
Will look upon Goodwill resurrection
a boy will smile over a packaged kite
there’s chance this bowtie will make us clever.
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- Dedication to My Readers - July 12, 2021
Oh! What fun my kids and I had at the Goodwill long ago – this piece is nostalgic for me and nicely phrased. Thank you, Jamie for a trip through the past. Well done, my friend.
Also, Jamie, thank you for continually following SEO requirements in your work. This makes my job a lot easier. Kudos!