Dress for a Funeral
Jean MacKenzie
I poke the needle through the seam
Of the black silk skirt
To resecure the lining after alterations
Its hung in the closet these three months
and still has tags attached
remember when we tried on dresses
in the shop in san antonio?
You found a cocktail dress
For a party in New orleans
I found the 2 piece dress on sale
Black silk skirt and pattered top.
You could wear it to a funeral, you said.
You never know when youll have to go on short notice.
Yes, I've thought that too
What if the phone would ring and I'd
Have to pack my bag and quickly choose a dress?
After all, our folks are in their 80s.
I had to let it out you know,
And just toady sate down to finish
And just today sat down to finish
And to think of you
Yesterday they took your breast.
A pecan sized tumor, they said.
Very aggressive.
Likely there already.
That january day in the shop.
A tiny secret, hiding until spring.
When it masqueraded as a cyst.
A no show on the mammogram.
There ar e suspicious spots on your liver.
And concern about the lymph glands
You'll go home with a shunt on your neck
All ready for the chemo.
You've ordered your wig.
And I've cut the tags on my dress
All ready for a funeral.
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