Classic Poem

Glenn Miller's music is a trunk
in which I keep my childhood
among the infinite clutter, house after house,
of arches and straight lines
(Chatanooga Choo Choo)
kitchen cabinets with fruit decals,
mahogany furniture with woven straw,
doll houses without balconies,
not being permitted to put on make-up
among women with red lipstick
and permanent waves,
(Moonlight Serenade)
shoes with a hole at the toe,
linen dresses with flowered petticoats,
my handbag
loaded with lollypops to have while I shop,
sticking my belly out
(At Last)
making believe that a baby
was going to be born of me
and that I
was buying its little things
Glenn Miller's music is a trunk
that stores a childhood
crushed to smithereens.