List Poem

Little Red Boat

I remember a toy boat I had when I was six.

I remember it was small and red.

I remember its plastic was going pale and rough on the edges;

I remember its worn, dulling surface.

I remember it went on the little waterway playset.

I remember that was on white tiled floor outside the preschool,

I remember the floor was slippery with dirty water.

I remember teachers filling the playset with water from a green rubber hose, while us children chose boats from a plastic rack.

I remember that there were all sorts of boats on the plastic rack: shining, stark boats that looked like speedboats or liners or tugboats;

I remember I always looked for the little red boat.

I remember looking for the little red boat one day and not finding it.

I remember the chaos and frenzy as other children rushed to grab the best boats off the rack,

I remember my vision blurring, and warm tears on my face, even in the humid weather,

I remember teachers asking me what’s wrong — 

I remember telling them I can’t find my boat— where is my boat?

I remember Miss Alison coming to me, the red boat in hand

“It was in my car boot. I thought this was an old boat and nobody wanted it.

I was going to give it away, to the Salvation Army.”

She gave me the boat. I took it home.

I still have it, it sits in a drawer collecting dust now.

But my memory of that boat

is always gleaming and bright,

with its worn plastic and faded red.