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]