revisiting tchotchke
gaudy colors and tacky textures
strung on tree branches, sitting on shelves
that magnet, the lanyard, those peg measures
toy story like, alive in dreams and adventures
crowding dresser table tops,pinned on scruffy coat lapels
whispering in hesitant shapes, stories and verses
finding tchotchke
a book stand spills over, hiding predictably, in the corner store
repeated shapes, swag statements, in sterile trade fair tents
rows of bling, functional snine, in online carts
logo on a badge, randomness in gifts, editions galore
pretending mutual admiration, promoting collective pretense
aspiring to stockpile connections, that are scrambling and sparse
synthesizing tchotchke
memorabilia, from visits and vistations
finger print stains that glare, nostalgic festivities and cake spills
unwrapping butter paper, conversations on fireplace mantels
mass produced wobbles, incredible yet imitations
catering to inane corporations, employee affiliation at will
redefining tchotchke
mocking each other, emoji like, tentative trinkets
nudge for space, tweet like, on the study ledge
hide in drawers, snapchat like, dead space nuggets
today
at the bazaar, i shop souvenirs
isolation burnout, emotions at risk
i look for and at, faces not shelves
i strain to hear, voices not bells
i engage in kind words, catalogued as exhibits
i try to fortify connections, rehearsing their pledge
simply tchotchke
the world over, worldly wise, treasures
like rehearsed memories
my tchotchke stood their space, anticipating my free fall
glittering remanants, that slip and stall
as I drift into the mundane and grime
of my daily abyss
enshrined tchotchke
i start to bag, as debris
then,
stop and surrender, and see
years, tears and smiles
symbols of traveled miles
in blushing souvenors – you may mock
but I will flaunt, again, my daunting collection of tchotchke
*an inexpensive showy trinket(Yiddish)
Kashiana 