When my mother left her third marriage
she took up ironing. First her own
clothes, then mine; soon my doll's
dresses. Even sheets. She showed me
how to open seams flat,
to start with the yoke and let
everything flow from there.
Sometimes she put little creases
in the fabric as she pressed
the big ones out. Musty,
floral scents of starch and sizing
wafted from her room, next to mine;
I fell asleep to the breathing
sound of the iron’s steam.
A lot of great sensory input in this poem. I am intrigued by her leaving the third marriage and the resulting ironing. I sense it was a way to focus energy and burn off frustration, but there aren't many clues within the poem itself. I love the ending two lines. You have so many senses triggered in that one sentence!
ReplyDeleteI think the compulsive ironing speaks volumes about her personality and agree w/pb the ending two lines are excellent. Nice write!
ReplyDeleteThis one has a quiet way. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis poem flowed beautifully from start to finish and I simply love it. I could actually hear and see what was happening. Excellent writing.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully conceived and constructed. A tight, intensive focus on a detail of human behaviour from which so much might be inferred - something that good poetry alone can manage.
ReplyDeletenice. you created a moment very vivid to the senses and hung it on memories that were warm...in spite of the coldness of seperation...
ReplyDeletethe depth of this poem is so intriguing..the tiny details of ironing added more levels to it..very special poem indeed! Excellent one shot..thank you for sharing with us..:)
ReplyDeleteThe start of the verse was startling and then I settled on, as I went on reading other lines... I can feel the sensitivity that you have had grown up with, so close to your heart that it has become comforting for you... the sense of security in those senses around... I liked it.
ReplyDeleteॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
Like a snap-shot straight from your memory! Wonderful One Shot!
ReplyDeleteA lovely memory captured in a beautiful poem....a wonderful one shot! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely, evocative. Without saying, it says a lot about the mother, her state of mind. I think the ironing was immensely comforting to both mother and child. For me too, the memory of mom ironing is comforting. Loved the final lines.
ReplyDeletethe opening line pulls you right in...was she as obsessive with the husbands as she was the ironing? very well written..cheers pete
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking the iron brought more meaning to her life than three husbands.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting study in personalities through poetry
Thanks for sharing with One Shot
smiles from Moondustwriter
scents and breathing
ReplyDeleteare good words here
and i like how breathing is used to
remind of a sound
i can hear it...
Interesting what memories attach themselves to seemingly more profound others. Excellent work.
ReplyDelete