Seam Stress

Mrs. Parker pulls thread through

bees wax as her mother taught her

still thread snakes into snarls

with button wobbling in place

pin between button and cloth.

A shank her mother advised her

allowed space to pull button through hole.

When Lucy thins to a sliver

Mrs. Parker attempts alterations

of seven-gored skirts in heavy serge.

Does one remove a gore?

Slice existing seams and trim?

How does the waist detach?