Worn linoleum that bent
to my mother’s mop
a kerosene stove
with its oily odor
rough unpainted cedar walls
window curtained in gingham
the haven to escape winter’s gloom
once the firewood was gone
dreams of green pigweed
and dandelion greens
with asparagus to follow
my mother ironed white hankies
and dad’s boxer shorts
with irons heated on the stove
she wet her finger and
tested the irons damning them
when they scorched her aprons
the worn screen door
slapped as my father left
to fight wild mustard
in a hay field
by night a kerosene lantern
lit our space around the table
as we listened to June bugs
flapping against the screen
mom mended, dad drank his
last cup of coffee for the day
and I read my fairytales.

Connie Russell was born and raised in the Chippewa Valley, working in the Eau Claire Area School District for 25 years. She has published her memoir, Happily Ever After, as well as articles in Volume One and Chippewa Valley Family. To learn more, reach her at ctruss@charter.net.