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| Photo Credit: HappyHolidays2014.com |
THE COAT
Mother was satisfied
with the two dresses
she alternated
wearing
to her salesclerk job
at Quackenbush’s.
When she’d arrive
home,
she’d change into a
house dress
and hang the dress
she wore
on the clothesline to
air.
Mother was satisfied
with her old winter
coat.
It was warm enough.
It didn’t matter to
her
that the sleeves
were beginning to
fray.
Whenever there was
leeway in the budget,
she bought for us.
She could wait.
She was satisfied.
When I turned
sixteen,
my first job was at
Woolworth’s.
I was paid ninety
cents an hour
to work after school
and Saturdays;
brought home twelve
dollars a week.
I gave a portion to
my father,
bought my own
clothes,
paid for bus fares,
lunches, books,
and saved.
One day I saw it
on a rack in The
Mart,
a nice gray wool coat
with neatly folded
unfrayed cuffs.
Nothing fancy,
just new and neat
and on sale.
I wrapped it for her
birthday,
January eighth,
but gave it to her
in early December.
It was the first time
I’d given her
more than a trinket.
Maude
Carolan
The year was around 1960, five years before my dear mother passed away. That was a very long time ago, but memories of her are still very much alive in my heart. This poem was previously published in the "Paterson Literary Review".
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