As an editor of a poetry magazine, I have read thousands of poems in my nineteen years on the job, and not all of them are worth even the time it takes to read them. But then, there are these. These are the poems that changed my days, my ways, my life, or my mind.

3.17.2012

Goodwill by Ed Galing

just want to let you
know that the Goodwill called the
other day;
     wanted to know if i had any
clothing to give away, that no
one wanted anymore;
     i said, well, my wife is no
longer with me, and i have clothes
hanging in her closet ... could you
use them?
     the Goodwill people said they
could, if i didn’t mind, so i thought
that since you can’t use them anymore,
     i would give them to the Goodwill ...
i hope you don’t mind this, honey ...
     i went up to the second floor
and took a plastic bag with me,
and began to put some of your clothes
in there;
     i hope you don’t mind that i
gave away your two-piece white suit
     that you wore down in atlantic
city with me, when we walked on the
boardwalk, do you remember?  i can still
see how lovely you were,
the way you strode up that
boardwalk, so happy, who knew what the
rest would bring?
     i also put in there a few sweaters
you used to wear, and some hats and
shoes, and your pretty red dress you once
wore at our son’s wedding, so many years
ago; i was crying as i put them in the
bag, honey, but i know you are looking
down on me and smiling, and saying, it’s
okay, it’s okay ... i took the bag outside
and placed it there for the Goodwill
people
     i hope you don’t mind




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[first read in his chapbook Sweet & Sour: life poems; used with permission from Propaganda Press]

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