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Poetry | April 2013

Supermarket Lingerie

By Elaine Gilbert

I’ve crossed many lines: I own
a minivan; I say, “Wait till your father gets home.”
We attended, as a family, the opening of a Burger King,
sat in a plastic booth eating hot, salty french fries,
our offspring wearing cardboard crowns.
But I never thought I’d buy a nightgown at the supermarket.
It’s long and black and silky with stretchy lace; it
can’t help but be fashionable. It’s not its fault
it was next to the lettuce and toothpaste.
I’m frightened, though, because this means anything
is possible.
My boys could join the Army.
I could die before I have grandchildren.
I might never ever have a paying job again.
Freak accidents could await us all.
This nightgown has powers.
I will wear it, feel its seductive length
around my ankles, let it swoosh when I walk at 3 a.m. from child’s room
to child’s room to look at their sleeping faces,
their snowflake eyelashes,
their mouths open, throwing their gentle breath out to me,
saying, Yes Mommy, happiness can be found at the supermarket,
pushing questioning children, buying pajamas and bread,
letting us choose a sugary cereal once in a while.

5 replies on “Supermarket Lingerie”

Anita Albertssays:
April 8, 2013 at 5:49 pm

Powerful and sweet at the same time! Love it!

Reply
Ilene Martinsays:
April 9, 2013 at 8:08 am

Adorable! I can’t stop smiling. Thank you so much to the writer and thank you for posting it.

Reply
Julie Perkinssays:
April 18, 2013 at 4:22 am

Beautiful poem. I feel like the last line brings the poem together. Sometimes we do things that are less than ideal (like buying sugary cereal or a nightgown at the supermarket or salty French Fries) but that thing ends up being exactly what we need. There’s a sweetness in realizing that.

Reply
Debby Bacharachsays:
April 23, 2013 at 11:06 am

Great voice and details. I had fun reading this.

Reply
Lisa Williamssays:
May 2, 2022 at 4:35 pm

What a charming and relatable write. I loved the attending the BK opening as a family; it reminds me how standards shift in different seasons. This hits lots of different emotions in me, great writing. I love how the writer owns her less-than-perfect state, which makes it all better. Awesome share!

Reply

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