Women of Small Histories

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sun, 05 Jul 2015
  • 1449 reads
6 comments
 
The year is nineteen-forty-seven...
through the smog I can glimpse it. 
Summer dragged its heels – one
of the hottest on record.  Women
are waiting for life to get better. 
Almost noon and a storm threatens;
the sound of distant thunder rumbles 
down the chimney...a cat on the hearth
and the air is as thick as the soot
in the black-leaded stove.
 
My mother, and hers – sit round
the kitchen table.  It is Monday...
the day for cold meat, then jelly;
each week the same. Both in aprons –
hair tied up in a scarf; washing day
and there’s a blow on in the yard.
The Corona Man – cart and dray,
knocks on the door; as always,
they buy one bottle of Tizer.
 
The clock on the dresser strikes
twelve – a Westminster chime,
still unwinding from my mind...
the rent man knocks, and the pig-bin’s 
emptied, and Roger, the St. Bernard’s 
expected round for his customary bone 
from the Sunday roast. Until now,
an unsurprising day, till her pains begin;
the gin and cold bath hadn’t done its stuff,
and knitting needles, not the whizz
they’re cracked up to be.
 
All I might have been, and she to me – 
inhabited those sheets – blue-bagged,
purged,  and pristine, flapping on the line.
A new life, and all it meant to them – yet 
another mouth to feed. So, from then on,
I go it alone in the world, with no thanks
owed to women such as these, who saw
the whole damned, wonderful shebang
as nothing more than merely marking time
in the mad march of days...waiting for
the red light to turn to green.
Certificate 15
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Biography

Comments

Submitted by love_writing on

You've created wonderful images here, flapping sheets and all - I love it. Also like the nod to 'women waiting for things to get better'.

love_writing

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, lw.  Musn't forget those flipping...sorry, meant flapping sheetssmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

A great picture of how it was - taking care of reality - seen through the eyes of someone who also hoped for better. 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Exactly, Bee...you have summed it up, admirably.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I agree with the others Tina,  you've created a scene that takes one back to times long gone.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Jenny...for reading, and for sharing your thoughts.

Tina