April 8, 2011

Donation (rough draft)



Jo, 1964. Photo copyright PAH.


Donation


……………………………………. In large flat boxes were two hundred pants
……………………………………. two hundred and twenty one shirts, skirts, and
……………………………………. fifteen bras, twenty tired underpants,
……………………………………. and endless bags of worn and dusty shoes.

……………………………………. You did not wear all these, the tags still hung,
……………………………………. still dangled from the many seams while dog hair
……………………………………. cat hair, human hair, dust and tired mold,
……………………………………. impacted the good thoughts behind this gift.

……………………………………. You wore so many hats, so many scarves
……………………………………. to wrap around your balding head, so many
……………………………………. different sizes of nightshirts, slippers, and
……………………………………. robes tell us you shrank as cancer vanquished

……………………………………. dreams, while chemo lost its fight against the
……………………………………. errant cells. We didn’t know you but yet we did.
at

18 comments:

  1. HarrietApril 8, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    Beautifully written. We survivors need to see this kind of tribute once in a while.

    ReplyDelete
  2. HilaryApril 8, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    Maggie this is incredibly touching and eloquent tribute. Beautifully done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. PoolieApril 8, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Completely and totally amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AliceApril 8, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    Hear hear! I second all the above comments! A lovely picture to accompany it,too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. lilaliaApril 8, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Beautiful. Tragic. Touching. How special is life.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ruthekApril 8, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    A wonderful poem that says so much.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lonely RiversApril 8, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    She had pretty hands and a velvet box of rings from old lovers. Pricing the Priceless.

    ReplyDelete
  8. TaborApril 9, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    Yes, I have been there, somewhat, although the largest part of the burden fell on my brothers and sisters who lived closer.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownApril 9, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    What amazing things we can understand - deciphering the unseen from the seen. Beautifully done.

    ReplyDelete
  10. SondraApril 9, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    WOW that one blew me away--and the photo is so touching too. Thanks for the emotional charge!

    ReplyDelete
  11. KathyAApril 9, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    Beautiful, Maggie! And I love that photo!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. PatApril 11, 2011 at 3:40 AM

    'as cancer vanquished

    ……………………………………. dreams, while chemo lost its fight against the
    ……………………………………. errant cells.'

    Such chilling words. Such a beautiful photograph.

    ReplyDelete
  13. SueannApril 13, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    So beautiful!! About dreams and plans...many gone astray!! Love this nod to your journey!
    Congrats on your POTW
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 5:22 AM

    Fabulous words.. and OH MY... the photo is wonderful!

    Congratulations on your POTW!

    Di

    ReplyDelete
  15. SandraApril 13, 2011 at 6:23 AM

    Very touching.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Out on the prairieApril 13, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    A very nice thought provoked from losing a friend.

    ReplyDelete
  17. CricketApril 13, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    A beautiful poem, truly... from one who has packed the boxes, who has been spared packing the boxes, and who hopes never to pack such a box again.

    Congratulations on your potw.

    ReplyDelete
  18. dsApril 13, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    I never packed the boxes, but I've seen the cancer vanquish...powerful stuff.

    Congratulations on your potw.

    ReplyDelete

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