A List of 25 Things
by Constance Bates
Zee paper towels, still in plastic but ruined by rain
yo-yo favors (too light-weight with twisted twine), for the 5-year-old's party 25 years back
xylophone bones, one baton and six-of-eight crayon-colored keys
water weight pills, old enough there is no unremovable cap, no expiration on this prescription
violet lips of liquidy wax, a costume favorite, with a baby's bite dead center
underwear I never wear, a small sweet size 'twould be a sight to see
terry cloth in newlywed hues, to be torn into own towels for my own use
sandals, (or sandal) sparkly! sizzling! sexy! without its mate for months and years
ravioli recipe, relinquished for Chef Boy R Dee, three grown-up children ago
query form, in response to disgruntled reply to survey of product I cannot recall
proposals, of books I might still write but could not quite compose the I Propose
oven mitts, in avocado green, burnt orange, and quilted brown manic mushrooms
nine of ten collector plates of kittens, common and no longer cute enough to curate
mouse trap, clean and contemplated for contrived kitsch kitchen art
little lotions, liberated from motels and hotels and spa kiosks
kleenex box covers, of crochet'd bargain basement yarn by a beloved Bamma
journals, begun and abandoned in a heartbeat, each one's used single sheet rendered vintage by time
index cards, white, green, yellow, coral, orchid, once cheery, all blank but edge-worn and weary
hair pins, used a half-century ago to heft thick healthy hair no longer there
good wood shapes, purpose undefined but clearly a bargain, still 1970s-packaged and slashed by 60 percent
fine China, in that bad burned orange, earned by grocery shopping (next month, if you care, flatware!)
Evinrud warrantee, the boat long since sunk, but I'll wager we kept the engine
dog tags, the ones not worn by current canines but those now dead -- enough said
comics, cut from columns and mailed to me by well-meaning friends
bottles, emptied, glass and plastic, and I know there's a home somewhere for them! These,
all the reasons I cannot find my keys.