My grandmother covered all
her upholstered furniture in plastic
that stuck to your bare skin in summer
and was always cold in winter.
She said she did not want
to get the fabric stained, that
people could be easily cleaned
just like plastic slipcovers.
I asked her why she did not
cover the rug, an off-white plush,
in plastic and she chuckled,
“because, grandson, crumbs
need a place to hide and plastic
denies that to them, and why
do you think I only allow
water and gin or vodka to be
consumed while sitting
on this sofa and these chairs.”