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What Brings You Back To Me
by
Donna Pflueger


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It's not my feet atop yours dancing the polka
at Cousin Patsy's wedding. It's not the photo of us sitting
on the couch that shows our identical chins and slouch
to our backs. It's the mustard, Dad, the plain yellow mustard

that brings you back to me, every time. One taste
and we're at Soldier Field, wind blowing off Lake Michigan
like boos from the rival fans. Season tickets, home games,
our long walk from the car to the stadium,

Section A, upper deck, seats hard and cold.
Though bundled in long underwear, two layers
of woolen socks in thick-soled boots, we had to stomp
our feet to keep the circulation going.

We'd yell over the crowd at the concession man,
"Over here, some dogs!" And we waited
as he pulled them out of his silver box, watched
the steam fade, seat by seat, as they were passed

down to us. By the time we took a bite, ice cold.
They were the best dogs we ever ate, and those,
the best days — just the Bears, the crowd, and you
smiling at me, your mouth rimed in mustard.
 
© by Donna Pflueger.
Used with the author's permission.

Donna Pflueger is a poet living in the high desert of Cottonwood, Arizona, where her inspiration to write occurs by simply stepping outside (although she admits to being easily distracted by her love of dogs and birds!). Having lived in the Midwest and Southwest, she will soon be contemplating where she would like to spend her retirement years. Recently, Donna’s poems have appeared at Your Daily Poem, The Healing Muse, and Möbius the Poetry Magazine

 


Post New Comment:
marenomitchell:
Can't relate to the cold or the games, but anyone can relate to the living love. Most beautiful poem.
Posted 06/18/2012 04:53 PM
Jo:
Donna, a wonderful poem. From the "It was the mustard,Dad, the plain yellow mustard" I was hooked. Thank you.
Posted 06/17/2012 09:39 PM
angierdh:
Loved the line "like boos from the rival fans". Such a clear image that I felt like I could hear the cold winds blowing!
Posted 06/17/2012 02:47 PM
Anjie:
Love the poem, Donna! I like that little image of the steam fading as the hotdogs were passed down. Lovely detail! I can feel the love you have captured here. Anjie in WI
Posted 06/17/2012 09:36 AM
Kathryn:
Also, Donal, I love your idea that the football game was a "second church." Indeed. I even remember the priest indicating that the sermon would be short so we could relax knowing we'd be home in time for the game. Proud McAuley alum here...
Posted 06/17/2012 08:47 AM
Kathryn:
As a girl, I went to a Redskins game alone with my Dad in 1987, the year after our glorious Superbowl win. It was so cold that stomping did nothing, and my Dad actually took off my boots and put them under his coat and under his armpits to warm them up enough for me to keep me from crying. Thank you for making me remember that. I miss him dearly.
Posted 06/17/2012 08:31 AM
dotief@comcast.net:
I love the play on words with the title. And then the images were so bright and real. Wonderful tribute. Wonderful love poem!
Posted 06/17/2012 08:15 AM
Donal Mahoney:
This is a terrific poem that may have more meaning for me than many since I was born, weaned and worked most of my life in Chicago. Soldier Field was a second Church people I knew went to on a Winter Sunday after Mass to watch the Chicago Bears. The hairs in one's nose froze from arrival to departure. Watching the Bears was great but to be there when one's high school was playing for the City Championship made the hot dogs taste even better provided they won. And invariably Mount Carmel H.S. won. Thanks, Donna, for taking me back in time.
Posted 06/17/2012 04:20 AM


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