A New Apron by Cristina M. R. Norcross

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A New Apron
by
Cristina M. R. Norcross

Tired shoes, worn soles

and laces that hang like wilted lettuce —

Connie stares at the clock melting on the wall.

When her shift is over at Ray’s Diner,

the walk home will offer a moon’s view.

For now, the till slams closed

like a cymbal’s crash,

and the saltshaker bottles

still need a new layer of rice.

Once a week Connie exists

in the heaven of pottery class.

Heart and mind tell her hands what to do —

no Jimmy, the short-order cook, barking.

A new apron would change it all.

One with tiny roses would make her feel

like a garden queen,

instead of a linoleum counter slave.

If rust fingerprints stain it from sculpting clay,

all the better —

a sign of her creative labor.

Connie looks down and sighs

at her ketchup encrusted, blue polyester blouse.

“Hey, a customer at table nine is asking for his check,”

yells her boss, Louie.

With confident strides,

Connie walks out the front door

for the last time.

A new apron will change everything.

Cristina M. R. Norcross�lives in Wisconsin with her husband, their two sons, and a cat who loves to sleep on a warm, humming computer. Cristina�is the founding editor of the online poetry journal,�Blue Heron Review�(www.blueheronreview.com) and the author of seven poetry collections. When not writing or editing, she travels to distant lands and designs jewelry from found treasures. Learn more about Cristina at� www.cristinanorcross.com.

�

Eiken:
Lovely :)
Posted 07/23/2013 06:31 AM

Havenwood:
"Instead of a linoleum counter slave"...a very apt description of how I imagine many waitresses feel. The last stanza is simple and liberating. Nice read and write!
Posted 07/19/2013 07:55 AM

transitions:
Really enjoyed your poem and loved the last line; "new aprons all around"... Judy
Posted 07/18/2013 09:25 PM

Janet Leahy:
Great language in this poem, "the heaven of pottery class" testimony to how the arts can save our lives.
Posted 07/18/2013 11:00 AM

erinsnana:
Nice imagery in this poem! I love it!
Posted 07/18/2013 10:52 AM

mimi:
poignant, true poem, Cristina...lovely!
Posted 07/18/2013 08:42 AM

dotief@comcast.net:
I love it, having been a HOJO girl back in the day! Wonderful language to convey such a liberating experience!
Posted 07/18/2013 08:07 AM

Ralph Murre:
Great narrative, Cristina. Thanks.
Posted 07/18/2013 07:59 AM

TheSilverOne:
So many of us work at jobs like that on the way to bigger dreams, and love that moment of walking out the door!
Posted 07/18/2013 07:50 AM

paula:
So good to hear your voice. A great poem for everyone working at a not-my-dream job and for everyone stepping onto a new path.
Posted 07/18/2013 06:40 AM

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