POETRY CORNER: TREASURED MEMORIES

Just a heap of old rags

Slung over the fence

Put out in the sunshine to dry

Seemingly useless -- no good at all

To those who are just passing by.

But soon they'll be trimmed

so each piece will match

Carefully hemmed

And then smoothly pressed;

Each stamped with a pattern

Then trimmed with bright thread,

Now especially looking their best.

No longer just rags

But a nicely matched set

of tea-towels for someone to own;

They now have a purpose,

A reason to be

And soon they will have a nice home.

As somebody's treasure

They proudly will serve

Never once their duty to dread;

Those frazzled and tattered

Useless old rags

Are now Treasured Memories instead.