“Do the kitchen? I’ll give you Swedish Fish!”
I hear negotiations reach a peak,
numbers flying, the clatter of each dish—
the kids are home, visiting for the week.
That gummy currency bought lots of things—
a chore, “shotgun,” a TV show, a wish—
less like cash and more like sonar pings,
locating love that could be found with fish.
Adults now, pairing Fish with cabernet,
they tease and trade and get the kitchen done.
It’s like old times, and then they go away,
as we adjust to plus or minus one.
Everything’s clean, back in its place, or mostly.
And still I hear the sound of fish, but ghostly.
—Midge Goldberg
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
