glimmer day 112 – NaGloPoWriMo 23 April 2025

made in China

americans love cheap shit
mr trump, with his golden toilets, and
gilded, garish opulence, doesn’t get us
why else would he declare war
on the only thing that makes our simple
lives livable…cheap shit, meticulously 
engineered, easy to assemble kits
of a gazillion pieces, pressed, laminated
planks with precisely pre-drilled holes, 
vacuum packed bolts and screws, 
tiny hex keys to put it all together, 
it’s an afternoon’s entertainment 
with a surprise at the end, like cracker
jacks (if you’re old, you know), and 
the satisfaction of building something
usable: a chest of drawers, lawn furniture,
toys, cabinets, shelves, and so much more
you have to admit china is good, very good
at producing the bargains we crave…
destroying democracy is not enough
for the vindictive tyrants in our crumbling government
they had to shut down our access to cheap shit too

~kat

I am proud to say I assembled the chest of drawers in the photo above, as well as a dresser, a nightstand, and recently an outside “egg chair swing”, an open coffee station rack, a bread box…clearly I am a fan of “made in China” stuff.  The latest tariff shenanigans are a real bummer. It’s the end of an era. 

But all is not lost…while I may not be able to afford made in China stuff in the future. I shall enjoy sipping tea while swinging in the warm summer breeze in my new egg swing…it is the perfect place to chill after a long day…the perfect place to write poetry!  And my glimmer for today!

Much love, peace, and “some assembly required” glimmers to you!

-kat

NaGloPoWriMo 23 April 2025 prompt:

The sum of its parts
Consider the objects in your home. How did they get there? What resources were required to produce them? Write a poem about the origin of one or more of your possessions. / Recommended reading: “Putting Together Ikea Furniture” by Clint Margrave