Make It Do
what is
the next thing?
eat it up
dominate / press down / shake together
repurpose / upcycle
were years behind this woman
who saw banks in coffee tins
and toilet paper in phone books
the fastest on slow fashion
who saved ripped out zippers
for 4H skirts, old panty hose
tie up gladiolus, fallen
what is
the next thing?
wear it out
old boot given to the son,
then the son, then the daughter
then dipped in gold and placed
on the piano
to be worshiped
what is
the next thing?
do without
a sock without a match
turned into a duster, a buffer,
a puppet. Lord no not a puppet,
we have to
what is
the next thing?
14 thoughts on "Make It Do"
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I love this, Liz! Reminds me of my grandparents, who repurposed ALL the things. Not sure about toilet paper from phone books, though! haha!
it was rough (rim shot)
hahaha!
This comment pushed out a true laugh.
This also made me think of my grandparents/parents as well. Also, encouraging me to be more savvy in repurposing.
“Lord no not a puppet” made me laugh out loud. Delightful poem, Liz. Whole lived lives in those remnants.
Your form works. This poem reminded me of all the slow years I’ve had–I remember the “toilet paper in phone books” and old sears catalogues, for example. We should actually be reusing everything, shouldn’t we.
I both loved and hated the slow years. Agreed that we should probably be reusing it all.
saved ripped out zippers for 4-H skirts, describes well the incarnations of one thing into another and the mind behind it.
The reference of the scripture which is a promise of abundant blessings to those who give. To save and preserve is to give.
what is the next thing? makes you think forwards and backwards
I like this poem and the memories!
I feel this poem. Once I had money and then became poor again, I find myself saving bacon grease, reusing old jars, grocery bags, rubber bands & twist ties, ripping up tattered sheets for dust rags etc. Lessons learned the hard way.
Liz, So many things to love about this poems. The boot refurbished into the golden idol is a favorite. My mother always kept money in coffee tins and cookbooks. A delight to read!
Puts me in mind of my Nana’s Clean Plate Club, of which I am a lifelong member, sadly, lol. Especially love the pantyhose tying up the fallen gladiola, for some reason.
reminds me of my parents, environmentally correct before there was environmentally correct