Please Don't Throw Away

My grandmother’s washing board, and her colorful knitted blanket.

The blanket is heavy and keeps you warm in bed.

Bubby Rubinstein’s earrings, the loops with the pearl and tiny diamonds.

You wouldn’t take them off her after she died, I was out of town.

Tatty’s first lock of hair, Bubby Hoffmann labeled the envelope. 

The pile of passports, birth certificates and social insurance cards I’ve saved. 

They’re inside my night table.

My mother’s broken jewelry box with all the garbage I’ve collected from Har Hamenuchot.

Maybe, I’ll change my mind.

My father’s gift box, it’s small and torn and all I have. 

My Brownie uniform and all my badges that are sewn onto old dress belts.

My mother’s set of dishes, and dishes and dishes.

I’ve carefully protected them. Don’t upset her.

You can decide what to do with all her needle points.

That’s all for now.

Oh I forgot, 

Tatty’s kippah and gartle* are at the bottom of my camera bag.

*prayer belt made from black silk threads