“Utilitarian Fashion Apparel” by Ellie Csepregi
Poetry Pause is the League of Canadian Poets’ daily poetry dispatch. Read “Utilitarian Fashion Apparel” by Ellie Csepregi.
Utilitarian Fashion Apparel
By Ellie Csepregi
The sequins you threw out, still float along the Danube River.
Woven themselves along the shoreline into organza, cotton,
taffeta, brocade, corduroy, even heavy felt.
Deep into the thick fibre helmets you designed for workers.
Protective gear that made you famous before the uprising.
Later, the clear vinyl aprons you created and sold to the
other displaced women seeking normalcy on Pier 21.
I misunderstood. Thought you made opera hats for the fancy, perky,
ladies of Budapest society. You were always so dainty in your flight.
You laughed and said, “You think I wanted to go insane with all that glue and
those fake gems sticking to their heads?”
“Listen, my son!” (Always called me son, when she was serious and wanted to make
herself known.) “I made workers hats. Two pieces of felt and a strong seam down the
middle. With ear flaps. Simple. For everyone.”
I feel weak and heavy with your story – like the pulling of roots. Not up rooting – but a
down rooting. A shift.
Now, worlds rerouted because of a minuscule virocell – not even a glimmer.
My sisters and I imagine you still alive calling masks and lockdown such stupidity –
nonsense. “Ilyen hulyeseg!”
Yet – when you were alone with misery and dark memories – you gathered silver
and golden remnants, sewed sparkly lounge-wear. To cheer up.
At 84, auditioned for the Dragon’s Den – lined up on a cold Toronto street
in December. Reminded you of times everyone waited for butter.
Wanted to pitch more protective gear for truckers who rest their left arms on the doors of
sixteen wheelers – the essential long haul. Slip-on sleeves that will save skin from the
angry burn of the sun.
On second thought, you would not have rebelled against the masks.
In fact, perhaps invented the most glorious garment. With
secure fashionable pockets for sanitizers, tap cards.
Jewelled and discreet latches to hold triple layered matching masks.
Along with light chiffon type overcoats of:
Quick drying polyester blends.
Easily removed and sanitized.
Flexible attire for all silhouettes.
Shields for softened bodies.
Reasonably priced.
Copyright © Ellie Csepregi
Ellie Csepregi is an internationally published poet whose work appears in literary journals and anthologies including: Rampike, Ash – Oxford University Press, Black Moss Press; Blue Skies, Cranberry Tree Press; Spittoon, Windsor Review, the Beijinger. She has been a cultural worker and supporter of the arts since the early 1970s. Her longer poems have also been written into theatrical pieces and performed by TheatreSpace in Vancouver. Her first collection, Tiers: What We Do with all that Cake, was published by Cranberry Tree Press for December 2020. She has mentored and encouraged young voices and international authors to express themselves through creative writing. Globally Ms. Csepregi continues to be a contributing member of the Spittoon@Chengdu Arts Collective and is a former member of various committees. She is honoured to be included in Poetry Pause.
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