Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Hanging In There (Poem)

Hanging in There

You don't ask
much of me,

and I don't complain.
When I fall, as I do

whenever you hurry,
you let me rest

right there, not
one word out of you.

I know you notice,
eventually will bend

down, pick me up,
smooth my sleeves,

maybe cuff the ones
next to me, a nudge

to give me some
extra breathing room,

maybe even rearrange
my order to better suit

your mood, let me fill
some need I can

only guess at: wood
first, then plastic,

next all coated wire.
Hey! I come in colors, too.

I don't take days
off. I'm here 24/7

to support you, take
up the weight you drop

from shoulders and hips
at day's end. Believe me,

I want you to keep looking
sharp, neat; really, I do!

I just can't guarantee
I won't sag with age,

splinter when you're rough
with me, snap in two

when you pop a button,
glow red-hot under the collar.

Please, don't close the door
on me, shut me up,

leave me alone in the dark.
What kind of sacrifice

are you making, anyway,
leaving the overhead light on?

© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas
_______________________________________

I offer this little take on the clothes hanger for the "One Shot Wednesday" event at One Stop Poetry, which each week invites poets to share and read each other's work. be sure to visit the site late Tuesday afternoon and every Wednesday for links to the many contributors' poems.
at

28 comments:

  1. GlynnFebruary 22, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    I'm smiling at this one - a clothes hanger speaks in poetry - and eloquently, too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leslie HagueFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    I've been in the process of purging clothes from my wardrobe, and hangers are building up as a process. This makes me look at them a whole different way. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Louise GallagherFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Yup -- an eloquent clothes hanger -- and a deeper truth than it's just 'hangin around'.

    very very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hannah StephensonFebruary 22, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    There is something poetic about clothes hangers--their noises and how elbow-ish they are.

    I love the playfulness of this.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dave KingFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    Superb

    ReplyDelete
  6. katdishFebruary 22, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    Ha!

    NO. WIRE. HANGERS. EVER!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just MeFebruary 22, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Wow! This one was awesome! And the great thing about poetry is that it can be related to so much more than a clothes hanger. What a wonderful way with words!

    ReplyDelete
  8. S. EtoleFebruary 22, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    smiling at this ...

    ReplyDelete
  9. moondustwriterFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    so delightful - I'm hanging on each word

    Thanks for your support of One Shot

    Moonie :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Chris G.February 22, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    There's more to even hangers than meets the eye, I see! Don't shut the light on them, they have feelings and fears too..

    Most entertaining read, certainly from a unique perspective. Bringing poetry to even the most mundane of items - a real gem. Hope my own hangers don't hold a grudge for how long they've been left in the dark.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Brian MillerFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    personally i cant stand clothes hangers...they are the bain of my existence...lol...but you perhpas enlightened me a bit...grr...

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Ha! Perfect. Can't wait to snoop your blog and see what else you have here!

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    Ha! Perfect. Can't wait to snoop your blog and see what else you have here!

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    Definitely more than meets the eye to the humble coat hanger though. Like the freshness and you thought out of the box to create this marvel

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    you made the hangar come alive :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. JoannFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:24 PM

    Hanging around has never been so telling and poetic. Good one!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Katherine KrigeFebruary 22, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    Glad you enlightened me at the end. Knew it was talking about something, but a little slow on the uptake. Methinks it is time for bed for a little someone.

    Cute poem though. :) I like when inanimate objects are injected with life.

    ReplyDelete
  18. signed...bkmFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:04 AM

    Excellent!!...Maureen...bkm

    ReplyDelete
  19. Shashidhar SharmaFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:48 AM

    Dear Maureen

    Very beautiful and interesting.... lovely the way you have brought an object alive....
    Thanks for sharing...


    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/02/whispers-tanka-and-search-for-being.html
    Connect with me at Twitter @VerseEveryDay

    ReplyDelete
  20. RuthFebruary 23, 2011 at 3:36 AM

    After hearing the voice of the hanger in your enlightening poem, I will treat mine with much more respect. Thank you. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. PadmavaniFebruary 23, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    Enjoyed reading this Maureen!For the next couple of days I am going to wince every time I hear a hanger drop and remember your poem!
    I like what you have done to any everyday object.
    Cheers
    Padmavani

    ReplyDelete
  22. Cassandra FrearFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    How totally creative. I love the whimsy of this poem.

    Maureen, you've got skillz!

    ReplyDelete
  23. BubbaFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    I like the intimacy here, the little details and the various feelings expressed. Nice One Shot, Maureen!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Luke PraterFebruary 23, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    digging the couplets.. underused these days. Nice one shot!

    Warmest Salad

    Luke x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Violet N.February 23, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    Ah,that lucky hanger in your closet! Clever and fun.

    Violet
    (http://vnesdolypoems.wordpress.com)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dianna WoolleyFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    Imagination unleashed - you're amazing - love the coat hangar speaking!!!

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ami MattisonFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    Delightful, Maureen! Not sure how I missed this in my browsing this week, but glad I found it! Poor utilitarian coat hanger--what better object to speak poetry.

    ReplyDelete
  28. BeachannyFebruary 24, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    Like the bend of your metaphor today Maureen. How adroitly you make it work for you, doing double duty right through. You are amazing. I always say that! Love your work, always.
    Gay

    ReplyDelete