Anna Fern: Cash’s labels

Cash’s labels

Stitching in Cash’s woven labels

like I’m sending you off to school

I worry about the state of things

your cottontails shredding at the side seams, elastic going

the pile of greying pastel nighties on the table

I worry that the iron-on labels will prickle your skin

order the old-fashioned sew-in ones

possibly a mistake, I think, eight garments in, wishing I had a thimble

these days I hold the needle close up, thread through the eye

a knot in the end to hold fast

the label is woven tight, I have to grease the needle

wipe it through my hair

a trick I learned to push safety pins through layers of nappy

not that I have any babies of my own

though lately you’ve become my octogenarian child

you say, wait till you’re 83

I wonder if the other mothers will see your frayed undies

under all my excellent whipping stitches

and know

what a bad mother I am

Anna Fern