Much to like here. I would suggest a hyphen after place- so that "mats" doesn't come as a clunky surprise. I like the idea, as suggested, of "twelve dollars" and twelve hours in the day. I think the close works fine as is, there is some suggestion of the woman shutting up something of herself (as there is a suggestion of smoothing her own wrinkles) or her past in the box--the "hope chest". I suppose it isn't done to make revision suggestions at this stage, but I think an even better close, just moving the line right AFTER the tidy couplet, would be, "And after all, they're much too good to use," which seems, in a way, the essential line. It would open this up rather than closing it, at least sonically. But enjoyed this very much.
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