Rewinding The Yarn

Looking back

In the early 70's
the "Dolly sisters"
Mae, Marge, and Helen
three Irish-American mavens
born and raised in Jersey City tenements
heeded the call,
joined the senior citizen milleu
bound for the old sod.

They tour bused
through the country
bent on of visiting County Clare,
home to both of their parents.

They returned to the states
laden down with shamrock blessed glasses
and Irish knit sweaters for the grandchildren.

My Mother (Helen) brought me
(a new knitter)
an enormous box of wool
and the appropriate buttons
to knit an Irish sweater
of great size.

The yarn has been sequestered
in my cedar closet awaiting
the perfect project:
one stamped heirloom.

I've sampled and swatched:
a grand baby blanket, a scarf, a vest
and always rewound the yarn.

Jame (my youngest)
turned thirty-nine this year
and has been innoculated
with the knitting bug

Forty, I thought.
I'll give her the Irish heritage yarn
when she is forty.

Then I listened
to a writing tape.
The presenter invoked
Annie Dillard's injunction:
give your all, don't hold back,
don't save anything for later.

Jame is now the keeper
of the yarn.

Perhaps, she will create an heirloom
or more than one or pass it on to
one daugther or both.

Matters not.
The yarn has served its function.
A mother gifting a daughter...