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Animal Planters
by
Nancy Scott


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It was freezing today at the flea market,
not much for sale, not a cent on me.
With a checkbook, it's never too cold to haggle.
I bought an elephant, right foot nudging a blue ball,
ears flared, trunk curled upward in triumph.

When it comes to animal planters, I've no willpower.
My shelves are lined: three kittens in shoe,
grinning bear on log, cocker spaniel under mailbox.
Not to mention koala hugging tree,
buck-toothed rabbit or kangaroo,
ponies, swans, dogs, donkeys, ducks,
two deer, fawn and doe intertwined,
green stallion flying, red fox and a maroon goose
with a polka-dot kerchief.

Last week as I lingered at his table, a seller asks,
Aren't you the lady who bought a wood duck?
Oh, you remembered, I answer to save time
from haggling over two planter/bookends,
magnificent rams' heads, though
I couldn't say which of my wood ducks he meant.

I've found them from Montreal to San Francisco,
in Boston's antique shoppes, dusty barns in Ohio.
I still grieve for the overpriced cockatoo in Canton,
slightly chipped panther left behind.
Thousands wait to be saved from the dumpster.
It's only a matter of shelf space and stamina.
I can't stop. I've become the SPCA for animal planters.

 

This poem first appeared in U.S.1 Worksheets, 2004.
Used here with the author's permission.

 


Nancy Scott was an author and artist in New Jersey. Managing editor of U.S. 1 Worksheets for more than a decade, she was the author of five full-length books and four chapbooks. Nancy began writing poetry in the mid-‘90s as a way to share experiences and insights from her earlier career as a social worker. Nancy's latest poetry collection, A Little Excitement, was named "first choice for summer 2021 reading" by North of Oxford. Her art was frequently hung in juried shows and, sometimes, her poetry and art were featured together.

 


Post New Comment:
EstherJ:
This is a fun one! I've had my own collections over the years also, the latest: houseplants.
Posted 11/24/2024 11:47 AM
Larry Schug:
geez-sounds like my house! A well done poem.
Posted 11/24/2014 12:39 PM
loisflmom:
Dolphins and mermaids and too little space!
Posted 11/24/2014 11:15 AM
KarlaLinn:
Nancy! Hope you are well. It was wonderful to dwell in a poem of your again and experience vicariously the collector's passion conveyed in such detail and color. Write on! And happy Thanksgiving, Karla
Posted 11/24/2014 08:56 AM
Cindy:
so funny and I relate
Posted 11/24/2014 08:50 AM
penhart:
Love this one, Nancy. Great details---for my mother, it was little pitchers found at garage sales:). Thrift shops are my Aladdin's Cave.
Posted 11/24/2014 06:04 AM
penelopeschott:
Nancy, this is so funny -- but tragic too! Save 'em all. Best, Penelope
Posted 11/23/2014 11:13 PM


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