Mama’s China Closet

Mama’s China Closet

Mama never had much
Born right before “the crash”
Then she married poor
And had a large family

They managed to buy a house
Old and rickety
Built in 1854
And it came with old furniture

I loved that old place
With its sloping floors
And torn and discolored wallpaper
And windows that let the snow in

Thank goodness dad was handy
He knew about wood stoves
And furnaces and cesspools
And covering windows in plastic

Mama was from Texas and California
And then Hawaii—all warm
Dad was from Indiana
He understood the Jersey winters

Then we had to move again
Dad’s papers said Mississippi
And the house had to be sold
And good friends left behind

I cried on the way to Mississippi
My sister called me sentimental
As if it was a bad thing
I knew the house was crying, too

Mama took the large oval mirror
Beveled, heavy, carved
And 2 ancient looking paintings
And a china closet – all antiques

Probably the best she ever owned
The china closet is beautifully delicate
With bowed glass, tiger oak, paw feet,
Perfect for her Thanksgiving dishes

Mama loved her, she stayed intact
From Jersey to Mississippi
To several homes in California
To Indiana and back to California

Mama gave it to me for my pretties
Amethyst glass and painted stemware
And she has stayed intact
Through my several moves

“I can feel her soul.” I whispered to mama
Mama agreed—and said
“Yes, she is warm and gracious.”
And we giggled

I have always felt the soul of “things”
The old trees that were felled
To make furniture–speak loudly
For those who can “hear”

But even rocks speak
The Ojibwa consider rocks animate
Living beings with spirit–
Knowing this comforts me

And glass is silica…sand
And when created with heart
We hear/feel them, too
Exuding love

Surrounded by so much Aliveness
Is food for the soul
Mama knew this making ceramics
And me with rock dolls

And pity for the soul-deaf
Who see things as just things
Who can’t feel the tingle
That touching God brings…

But mama knew…

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