the sewing room

when was the last time

you saw

someone with a needle and thread?

for me

i think it was about

forty-five years ago

when my mother patched a hole

in my jeans.

she had a 

Singer sewing machine too.

she kept it on

a card table

in her sewing room, where

the walls were

decorated with puzzles

that she put together

and laminated.

she could sew anything.

she had enough yarn to cover

ten sheep. she had those weird scissors,

that she used to trim

photographs for her albums,

and mounds

of thin patterns

that she'd use to make dresses

for my sisters.

she was a regular Dolly Madison,

i mean Betsy Ross.

maybe i can fix my jeans

this time.