Janet Carleson: ALL DOLLED UP

ALL DOLLED UP

There’s a photo of my husband
when he was five, he’s all dolled up
with silk stockings on, and a tie,
with lace all down the front.
He was just five, with his legs crossed
It’s all so very, very posed...

I have a tintype of Cony Island in New York
There’s a touring car, my mother & father
she had on a big hat, he wore a straw hat—
a boater, they called it—
my brother wore his cap,
my sister had a big bow in her hair
But the background was all painted
with trees and sand and beach.

I’ve a beautiful photo of my mother
with her big hat and gloves
all stitched so beautifully...

—Janet Carleson