On Cumberland
by Gianna Patriarca
strolling down Cumberland
i saw a scarf in the window
of a fancy boutique
crimson red
with white polka dots
just like the one
mamma bought
for 50 cents
at Honest Ed’s
years ago
nostalgia
or just because
i love polka dots
i sauntered into the shop
draped it over my shoulders
looked in the designer mirror
it suited me
the way it had suited
my mother
when she wore it
only on Sundays
i glanced at the price tag
mamma wouldn’t approve
i thought
i put it back on the shoulders
of the velvet mannequin
who wore it elegantly
and
without memory
Honest Ed’s was a landmark Toronto department store serving immigrants from 1948.
