-Mary, Mother of God, and Annie, my regular mother-

My maternal grandmother advised her youngest daughter,
My young mother, that in times of hardship

She pray the Novena to the mother of God, the bless-ed
Mary the Virgin.

In no time, the new television set, 14 inch screen
measured diagonally, was squatting in the living room.

No one seemed to question whether

It was Mary, the great virgin, or

Chalmar Furniture Store at Bedford and Quarry,

Acting as intercessor between my mother
and the snazzy 14 inch Zenith.

Clunky, blonde-veneered, black & white-screened beauty

With spindled legs socked in brass,––

Horizontal, vertical, volume and brightness controls

Front and center, laid-out for ease of adjustment,––

Rabbit ears extended for optimum reception

Without the necessity of the ubiquitous aluminum-

Foil cocoons employed by our backward-thinking neighbors

And knowing what I know today, I’d say

My young mother, youngest daughter to Rose Giombastino Pieroni,
Belted-out one helluva Novena.