A Rainy Morning Before School
By Shawn R. Jones
Pliers turn on a shower
with no knob.
Rusty water falls
in a cracked porcelain tub
with chipped lion’s feet.
Five children make up
something to eat
like sugar sandwiches
or spoiled mayonnaise
on a stale roll,
so they can eat
in front of a coal burning stove
before they walk to school
with soggy cardboard
in the bottom
of worn out shoes.
Reprinted from Womb Rain
(Finishing Line Press, 2008)
You captured the scene. It sounds rough, but the memory made me smile.
Poetry is good for that ; )
Vividly captured, Shawn. A lowly state but one with hope and optimism for what will be acquired via education.
Thank you so much, Uzoma : )
AWESOME!!!!!!
Thank you! I often write about my mother’s childhood : )