Trends
Come fall, I grudgingly wore
Mother's knitted, polyester-blend scarves
wrapped around my neck, trifold,
knotted in back, hooded jacket squeezed
as if by a python.
Matching mittens if I were lucky,
leftover lengths of yarn cleverly striated;
little did I know the skill involved.
Shawls, cowls, socks, hats
she fashioned, knitting at night,
fireside. It was her therapy,
her creative outlet,
and I complained, wanting fashions
between the covers
of Montgomery Ward & Sears,
not realizing sister and I were wearing
the greatest trend of all;
her love.
by Margaret Bednar, September 27, 2025
My mohter knit until her dying day. I have her last incomplete project - a purple scarf and I cherish it. I have a pair of her mittens - almost too small for my hands - yet I slip them on and hold my face. I have socks she made me and I wore holes in them - I can't throw them out. She did transition to better quality yarn - but when we were kids she didn't have the money.
Happy Fall everyone. It's been a while since I've written poetry and it feels good. Thank you for this space to share and be inspired!
4 comments:
The last two lines of the poem is very touching.
Good to see your poems again. Lovely tribute to your mother. We are all guilty of never fully appreciating the love given to us as young things. It is only later in life we become aware.
Nice looking scarf. You wore one like it walking to school, I did? Do you remember the song, "They paved Paradise . . .? It had the words , " . .
. you don't know what you've got until it's lost . . " For some reason that's what I was reminded of. "
Oh what a beautiful tribute and I love that scarf. Yes mothers give us lots of warmth and we not always realise it
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