My Friend Gave Me Old Pictures of My Father
A poem by Lucia Cherciu

My Friend Gave Me Old Pictures of My Father

I wanted the journals, although I couldn’t
decipher the handwriting.

I wanted someone to fix my sewing machine
so I could make a quilt of good decisions

and all the hesitations with their ragged edges
festooned with barb wire.

I wanted the tulips planted
in front of the studio window.

I wanted to find the inner strength
to lift weights.

She complained that someone stole her notebook
and asked me to buy her one.

I should have asked what kind
of notebook she wanted.

I should buy many notebooks
to give to my artist friends.

My friend gave me old pictures of my father
from twenty-seven years ago.

Like finding out that an old painting
bought at a garage sale is worth more

than your house, the picture of my father
gives mutual hospitality.

About the Author:

Lucia Cherciu is the author of six books of poetry, including Immigrant Prodigal Daughter (Kelsay Books, June 2023) and Train Ride to Bucharest (Sheep Meadow Press, 2017), which was the winner of the Eugene Paul Nassar Poetry Prize. Her work was nominated multiple times for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Her poems appeared in “Poetry,” “Antioch Review,” and elsewhere. Her web page is http://luciacherciu.webs.com.  

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