on monday things were getting better,
but by tuesday night we felt tremors
and wednesday we heard about the crash.
in the afternoon, you washed
strawberry jam out of a mason jar.
it seemed strange.
'time to save the buttons,' you sang,
but it was strange
as the sweet ruby jam disappeared
in ragged clumps,
just so we could concentrate on thrift.
'dollars are dear,' you said.
buttons began substituting
secret-sly kisses, and just-because gifts
left our soup kitchen world.
instead, buttons were for remembering.
you buried the pearls as too
extravagant--ivory, as well. but
my horrid, chipped, black ones you kept.
you ripped them from their stitches
and used them out of context
as my errors in your rag-bag finery.
it was a bare-bread evening of
'how was your day?'
'good thank you, yours?'
i would rather have some frivolous
jam than cold button memory-preserves.
but it's cold outside, and warm
in our sunday best scrap-quilts.
and sometimes between almost and asleep
our sole candle flame makes the buttons
sort of glow, nearly a glow
like rosy-red strawberry jam.
Author notes
Historical event: The Great Depression
I know this isn't good; please see my disclaimer on the group board.
The repetition and bare-bones grammar here is all intentional, sort of like the "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" kind of mindset of that era.
I'll do better next time... =/
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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this kind of had a prose-feel to this, but i like your style, regardless. the repetition of 'jam' stuck out to me, like, when i was done reading this all i could think of was the word 'jam' --- this didn't have the most exciting imagery, but all in all this was a well written poem.
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i enjoy your style every time i read your poems. you have a fluidity that is rare in anyone below 25 years of age.
the second stanza was my favorite. the ending was slightly odd but i liked it
well done, don't berate yourself!
-cassidy
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This wasn't bad, you really should give yourself more credit.
It's a hard topic, and I think you did a fine job
I liked how you used buttons in a jam jar. That was beautiful! You could litterally see them!
It's a tad whimsical, but so am I
I love it.
Fantastic job
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Dude, if this is what you call bad....
I loved the opening. I really did, cool use of the stock market crash.
"it seemed strange.
'time to save the buttons,' you sang,
but it was strange" I like this, just not a big fan of the repetition of strange.
"buttons began substituting
secret-sly kisses, and just-because gifts
left our soup kitchen world." I really love this.
"sunday best scrap-quilts" Great image.
Yeah, so this isn't your best. Does it suck? NO!!! Not by any means at ALL!!!!
Soooo lay off yourself!!
Love Always,
Caroline
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This was overall an AMAZING entry, and I'm feeling intimidated again But your third stanza says so much, I think. Don't put it down so much, it's actually pretty damn good, I assure you. I love how you used The Great Depression.
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