TO OLGA
This is a Waltham gold fob watch,
heirloom from your paternal grandmother, pawned
innumerable times by her contemptible husband
to compensate for income lost
to three day drunks. It bears, inside,
this inscription:
To Olga, Oct 12, 1916,
as well as several rows of rudely etched numbers,
one scrawl for each time it was pawned.
Incompetents from subsequent generations
pawned it, then reclaimed it--
a talisman for inherited failings.
by Nathaniel S. Rounds
heirloom from your paternal grandmother, pawned
innumerable times by her contemptible husband
to compensate for income lost
to three day drunks. It bears, inside,
this inscription:
To Olga, Oct 12, 1916,
as well as several rows of rudely etched numbers,
one scrawl for each time it was pawned.
Incompetents from subsequent generations
pawned it, then reclaimed it--
a talisman for inherited failings.
by Nathaniel S. Rounds
posted by Gabe at 1:58 AM
2 Comments:
I like this a lot. It's a unique look at a harrowing history of abuse and deceit. It's really not about a watch at all, now is it?
I always used to buy Waltham watches. Now I don't even wear one of the things, just call me jewelry-less pauper!!!
Anyhow, I used to buy those Walthams at Hill's stores before they went under. I guess Waltham is not the make it once was at the turn of the century (ah, the 20th century, not this century). It was then a top watch making concern. Now, I think the watches are made in Asia somewhere. They were still damned good watches. Now I can collect my ad fees from Mr. Waltham, huh?
Smart in its details--I like this very much.
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