her gifts

no matter what
gift you bought her.
it wasn't good enough.
despite your
intense analyzing
of the jewelry
she wore,
the coats and scarves,
the shoes
and gloves.
what lay in her
kitchen drawers.
nothing you ever
gave her was ever used
or liked.
not a spatula, not
the red sheer
stockings,
not the pill box
hat, or big blue
ring the size
of a walnut.
not even the Christmas
welcome mat.
all you got was a
mumbled thank you,
her trying hard so
hard to be
grateful and polite.