Bringing My Son To The Police Station To Be Fingerprinted

My lemon-colored
whisper-weight blouse
with keyhole closure
and sweetheart neckline is tucked
into a pastel silhouette skirt
with side-slit vents
and triplicate pleats
when I realize in the sunlight
through the windshield
that the cool yellow of this blouse clashes
with the buttermilk heather in my skirt
which makes me slightly queasy
however

the periwinkle in the pattern on the sash
is sufficiently echoed by the twill uppers
of my buckle-snug sandals
while the accents on my purse
pick up the pink
in the button stitches

and then as we pass
through Weapons Check
it’s reassuring to note
how the yellows momentarily mesh
and make an overall pleasing
composite

Analysis, meaning and summary of Shoshauna Shy's poem Bringing My Son To The Police Station To Be Fingerprinted

3 Comments

  1. katie says:

    I was drawn to the title of this poem, I wondered what I might find for information.silly focus on the woman’s clothing during this horrific life event.

  2. Kim Dawes says:

    I was drawn to the title of this poem, I wondered what I might find for information.I was surprised to see the seemingly silly focus on the woman’s clothing during this horrific life event. But yet, I then thought about times in my own life where something important might be going on yet I catch myself thinking about the most unimportant things. Perhaps this is human nature in that at a point where we have no control maybe it is safest to let our minds ponder the tiniest details to keep our minds in tack.

    • Joy says:

      This is very true Kim, I love how you interpreted this poem and how you made it relatable. At first I was confused on why she was doing, now I understand and realize that I have done it before too lol. You should become a journalist Kim, I love your work.

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