By Nancy Haskett
Modesto Branch
An old round tin,
perhaps once filled with candy,
is slightly dented by years of use,
the lid printed with a scene of palm trees,
striped awnings, an arched bridge over water,
some of it iridescent at the right angle
in the light.
Hidden away
in a drawer of my grandmother’s old sewing cabinet,
it’s filled with buttons,
some still unused on original display cards,
a few cloth-covered to match a red coat,
a large one made to resemble antique brass,
another with a tiny coat of arms,
a silver one with a peace symbol,
browns, blues, greens, golds,
varying shades of white, cream, gray, violet,
shiny, dull, smooth, patterned,
two holes, four holes, or tiny fastener loop
underneath.
These are the leftovers and extras
from clothes worn out, thrown out,
or given away years ago –
they rattle as I pick through them
like multicolored coins
that now purchase memories
of garments handmade
by my mother and grandmother.
I love “the multicolored coins now purchase memories.”
Nicely done!
Nancy Haskitt’s reminds me of my mother’s tin-box collection of buttons, which, over the years, featured the every-day to precious “beyond-buttons” which she had removed and kept long after the fancy garment had been tossed away. The box was bequeathed to
a grandchild who was showing signs of artistic genius.
Lovely memories of not only the buttons, but also the tins. I recently selected 5 different but similar buttons to sew on a soft old gray sweater that I wear only at home. It spruced it right up! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed my poem.
What is it about buttons that are so intriguing? I somehow think men might not have the same interest or feeling like women do. I to remember scooping up handfuls of buttons from a decorative glass container enjoying the sound and the feel on my hands as they pour back into container. Years and years of saving buttons.
Thank you, Nancy for the flash back of memories.
Save for the picture on the cover this tin is right now upstairs in my house! How comforting to know this is a shared scenario. Thank you for this wonderful slice of your past and present life.
I, too, have a button box. Few of my buttons are as interesting as these.
I also have a large tin box with a red dented cover full of my mother’s and my grandmother’s buttons! I sometimes pull a bunch of them out and enjoy looking at them and feeling them .
Your poem is well crafted and full of nostalgic emotion. Thank’s for sharing!
I love this. Who among us older women hasn’t had a button box?
Lovely visual…I had one I inherited, too. Dispersed long ago, but I still remember the feel of those buttons. Thanks for the memory.💖
lovely! So vivid, plus a touch of nostalgia!
Lovely memories
I can so relate to this poem and have found memories of my mother’s and grandmother’s button boxes.
This idea of the buttons saved from clothes no longer in existence brings back memories for me of my mother and grandmother both. Frugal and yet aware of the decorative value of small bits of style or beauty. Thanks for sharing.