The Lives of Objects II: Tablecloths

I saw them from a distance
heading my way, two beloved neighbors
carrying two boxes of cast offs
for the neighborhood yard sale.
Knowing they were in no mood
to sit in the sun selling their treasures,
I started to open a space on my table
to display the items; a cheesy snowman,
a vase for an amyrillis (no doubt,
the one still sitting in my closet
from three Christmases ago), a partially
empty box of Hanukkah candles and
three tablecloths.
The Hannukah candles sold for 50 cents;
selling the snowman was hopeless.
One woman kept coming over and fingering
those tablecloths and I had to tell her
they had stains and damage so she’d go away.
I took them home; they look quite nice.