Fife Contemporary

Patching the Cashmere

A hug of a cashmere hoodie
worn to rag; previous darning
unsuccessful as more holes opened.
Couldn’t bear to throw it away.

I’d loved sinking my hands
into the sideways pockets
until they came away in patches,
my fingers pushing on the stitches.

Scraps from older cashmere
now secured with embroidery:
Lazy daisy and running stitch
shapes of blossom in bright shades.  

Lockdown gave me restless fingers,
time to fix and heal the fray
but now as gaps are opening,
the more essential mending is.