It's Still Life

A fragment poem written around several italic lines from THE SECOND WIFE By Mary Willis Shuey

The Clearance 

I stifled my tears and 

went into the farmhouse where shelved
those many years I saw the bareness 
of her life 

Five dresses
Same Vogue dress pattern.
Different fabric. Cotton. Floral.
One plaid.

I opened wide the closet where still hung
those dresses. 

Patched. All had pockets for her hanky. 
Her nose always dripped. 
                 Like a faucet she said.

With trembling hands, I folded each one; 
placed it in a box - 
folded socks,       they scarcely matched. 

I opened another drawer. 
The lavender soap scented my memory. 

I feel her come.         To every door.
No matter where I go, I feel that she is here.

Now.         And as she was before .

Written for dVerse Poets, a Fragment Poem, Lines in italics are from the poem “The Second Wife”  by Mary Willis Shuey.  Some artwork is created using Midjourney AI, and is identified as such in the ALT text or captioned. Images are copyright and not to used without permission, which I willingly give when asked, and when not for commercial use. Imagery and poems/prose ©Misky 2006-2024.