This Old Thing

Diane ThiEl

 

 
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Coming up in the South, 

I watched one woman or another 

spend the entire day making a cake, 

to bring to the party a little something, 

and play it down, as everyone 

wolfed it down with praise. 

My aunt spent weeks knitting a shawl 

you could wear three ways, 

a piece of art by the time she was done. 

And when it was admired, I heard her say 

Oh, this old thing? 

I carry that answer with me to this day, 

underneath it all, though I’d rather 

be able to leave some of that behind, 

the hesitation, still finding myself at times 

quietly keeping it together 

with a cake, a costume, a poem, 

with this or that old thing. 

 
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Diane Thiel

Diane Thiel has published ten books of poetry and nonfiction and has a new book, Questions from Outer Space, forthcoming. Thiel's work has appeared widely, including in Poetry and The Hudson Review, and is reprinted in many anthologies; her awards include PEN, NEA and Fulbright Awards. Originally from Florida, Thiel is a Professor at the University of New Mexico. With her husband and four children, Thiel has traveled and lived in Europe, South America, Asia and Australia, working on literary and environmental projects. For more information, please visit www.dianethiel.net.