paper plates

my mother

would buy paper plates by

the hundreds.

it was easier that way

with seven

mouths to feed and

with no

dishwasher in sight, only

her raw pink hands,

but you had

to gauge

the amount of food you

placed upon

the fragile plates.

mashed potatoes were

a problem

as was gravy.

pork chops had to be

served

one at a time.

it was always a challenge

to unbend

the forks

that had been used earlier

to pry

open a paint can,

or unstick a stuck

drawer, but we managed.