march 24,2005

estelle manor memories


nanny's house always
smelled of ivory soap
and pop pop's grecian
formula and it carried
me away to piles
of dress up clothes
tiny size 5 shoes
and that old wooden
jewelry box with lions
for the handles
that was chock full
gaudy bauble loveliness
trips to dye
easter eggs and games
of bank teller
girlfriend giggles
late at night made
holly get her tail stuck
in the radiator
and her perfectly pink
nails and lipstick
and intricate perfume collection
and i remember life
so sweet.potato salad
her famous coleslaw
and squares of folded up
paper towels and it
was always a time
lost and preserved
always a daydream
of over the river
and through
to me
never the favorite
yet nevertheless
never quit
turning out those
sympathy soap turtles
and mr. washingtons
boardwalk chilly nights
and above ground pool
fabulousness and
i miss them.
riding high
their little kid
hot rod bikes
greeted by the scary
lincoln head(beware of the
past president) and i
own them....
crazy relative dreaming
and they will always
be mine.