Her Smalls

I believe the origin is British
but that doesn’t matter.
Smalls…it’s just a matter of undergarments
And the dearness of intimacy
And the gift of props

Like the hat box
which belonged to John’s grandmother.

The tiny gloves
that I wore to the White House.

The delicates which used to live
on the shelves in the Muddy Creek General Store.

The leather purse and traveling iron
which used to live on the shelf in Jane’s shop.

The coin silver spoon that Ted gave.

The teacup that Sue had to remind me was from her grandmother.

And that whimsical handkerchief of Polly’s
which I pulled from the drawer
because of it’s red stripe
and only discovered
half way through setting up the still life
that it’s painted little girl was Herself
doing the ironing.

Some of my most favorite paintings
come from a single word.

And the gathering round of favorite things.
And the gift of quiet leisure
in which to cherish them both.