Wedgwood
tissued and boxed
for the auction
the chips and cracks
of my mother’s life

Published by

Susan Constable

Susan Constable mainly writes haiku and tanka, receiving her inspiration from life on the west coast of Canada. Her work is widely published in both print and online journals, as well as in numerous anthologies. She has judged several contests as well as co-edited a couple of haiku and tanka anthologies She was the tanka editor for the online journal A Hundred Gourds from March 2012 to June 2016.

13 thoughts on “”

    1. There will be more; you share ideas and hopes and dreams. There is memory beyond things; other memories include actions and ideas. ;-)

  1. Very moving and very beautiful. The power of the last line throws me back through the poem to read it again and again. Textures, colours and real depth.

  2. This moves me,bringing back the memory of all of that packing and wrapping of my parents' treasures just a few years ago – and reminds me of the future packing and letting go in my own future … Lovely and true as all good poetry is. Thank you.

  3. Wedgewood gives it a specific period. I still have several of my mother's wedge wood pieces. The contrast of the tissue paper, the ceramic works and the metaphor of chips and cracks work wonderfully. Touching tanka with simplicity and beauty.

  4. Several weeks ago, I sent all my mother's Wedgwood to an auction house. My brother died almost eight weeks ago from ALS. Life is fragile. My investments now are more in the moment; my investments now are more in travel and introspection and sharing and learning and experiencing. Thank you for this fine work, Susan! I would never had imagined that I would part with my mother's treasures. Especially thank you for the sure clear message that there is more waiting for us! Best wishes!

  5. So many of us have or will have this experience. My own mother has many many porcelain "friendship cups" in her cupboard, all with different patterns. I so appreciate the imagery! Thank you, Susan! — Dianne

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