Mom kept a cedar chest 
made during the 1940s. 
It was a time capsule of hidden treasures

I, unfortunately, never got to meet my mom’s mother. 
I only had stories, pictures, and the 
cedar chest’s contents

My most treasured item was 
my grandmother’s maternity dresses.

She had two from the forties 
– one brown, one blue – 
both with the same floral pattern

The telltale sign it was meant 
for an expecting woman was the picture 
of a stork on the tag inside

The dresses were soft and well-kept 
How I wanted to try on that dress! 
And to my delight, my mom gave me permission!

The dress slipped easily over my head 
and hung comfortably on my shoulders 
I pranced around the house 

My one connection to the one 
who carried my mom

I began to wear the dresses to school 
with my sandals or my Docs. 
I walked everywhere 

to and from school, 
through downtown, 
to my afterschool job

And my grandmother went with me.
I imagined her at my age
17, walking through downtown Arctic

How few things change.
I imagined her life, full of potential 
that moment when you’re still a girl 

before falling in love 
before expectation 
and married life

She was with me 
and I was with her 
as we walked miles through town together

I still have that dress 
it will always be a treasured item

Nowadays, I am less carefree 
to wear it about my daily life

But maybe one day 
I can take it out, touch it 
with my hands, slip it over my head 
and prance around, once again

[ Happy birthday, Mom! This poem is for you!! ]