Refinishing Less than half an hour after I tossed it to the curb, my table found a new owner. A man stepped out of his truck, carefully lifted it into the cargo bed, and drove away. The table was old, its parquet finish worn, its top marred by an unknown substance, and it no longer suited my needs. I wondered, as he drove away, where the man would take my table. I guessed that he would strip, scrape, clean, and sand it, then apply stain and give it new life. I imagined it would find its place in someone’s hall or entryway, or behind someone’s sofa. And now I wonder: Is there a curb onto which I can toss myself, for I, too, am in need of having years of trauma, bad decisions, worries, and regrets stripped away. Is there a curb where God picks up souls, removes layers of psychic toxins, and applies a stain of pure beauty, sealed forever with a clear coat of love? I ask because I am in need of refinishing, and I seek new life.
Diane Elayne Dees‘s poetry has been published in many journals and anthologies. Diane, who lives in Covington, Louisiana, is the author of the chapbook Coronary Truth (Kelsay Books), and has another chapbook forthcoming. Diane also publishes Women Who Serve, a blog that delivers news and commentary on women’s professional tennis throughout the world.
Amethyst Review 