Massachusetts poet David McCann has had three books published by Moon Pie Press: SAME BIRD, LOST AND FOUND, and OUT OF WORDS. His latest book by Every Other Thursday Press is called THE UNDER STORY. This poem, from that book, is a nicely drawn childhood memory. David is a retired teacher of Korean literature at Harvard and has written a lot of poetry in the Korean sijo form. He has received numerous awards for his poetry.
Once in a Pickle
Shaler Lane, Cambridge, 1953
Down the Lane, around the corner, up a block, shop resting on its knees. Up three steps, open the door to dark space, shelves all around filled with this and that, bags and packages, cans, tons of stuff I never looked at, third grader. I thought Barrel! center of the store. Mrs. Holmes would lift the cover off. Deep below, they lurked, green monsters. "Nickel a pickle. You want?" "I want a hundred but I only have a dime." "Dime gets you three. One, two, three." She fished each one out, wax paper bag, handed it over. I dug out the dime. "Here you are, Mrs. Holmes. Thank you." "You're welcome," she said, big Mrs. Holmes smile. "And tell your mom, got cans, bags, all the specials still. To go." I went, made my way out the door, jumped down the stairs, pulled out a pickle and started my munch, big green pickle all the way back home.
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