Poem #6

Original Tower of Nanjing, Wikimedia Commons, Dr. Gary Lee Todd

 I'm participating in Mary Lee Hahn's "Our Wonderful World" poetry series this month. Today's wonder is the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing and Mary Lee has an absolutely gorgeous poem that you definitely need to read. When I am not trying to write poetry, my sisters and I are cleaning out the patio home where my mom has lived for the last twenty years, because she has recently had major surgery and moved into an assisted living facility. My mom has lots of beautiful stuff, but it's been really hard to know what to do with all of her treasures. This is the poem that came to me today.

"Porcelain Tower"
 

Cleaning out my mother’s house

my sisters and I build a porcelain pagoda

treasures we do not know how to keep

but cannot bear to give away
in the middle of the living room

Sterling silver tea set

my parents’ wedding gift

from my Grandmother Wilcox

it lived on dining room buffet

for many years

Sunday afternoons

my father would watch golf or football

and polish the tea service

he has been gone twenty years

and the tea service
clearly misses his ministrations.

Wedding china

White with one pink rosebud

wrapped around the rim

the first year

I did not come home

for Thanksgiving

my throat ached as

I pictured my family
uncovering those pink rosebuds

as they ate turkey

and homemade cranberry relish.

Waterford crystal

cut glass dishes,

pitcher, sugar bowl,

one piece purchased

by my Grandma Grace

every December

for my parents’ anniversary

displayed in

special bottom-lit case

but rarely used
because it chipped so easily

We heap everything

in the middle of the living room

one sister says none of this goes with her modern décor

the other says she has her own collection

I imagine my boys’ large rough hands

mishandling these delicacies.

Finally

we wrap everything in bubble wrap

and store it in tubs

building a plastic pagoda

in my youngest sister’s basement.

(c) Carol Wilcox, 2014