there is a box
in my closet
high on a shelf
back in a corner
imprisoned in cobwebs 
and a layer of dust

it is filled with you
in pictures and paper scraps
a watch a pin
a yellow shred of sweater
condolence cards and shells
dried spots of tears
a scoresheet from Scrabble

one day i will pass this box along
to someone who was too young 
when you left
and you will live on
in another closet
back in a corner
high on shelf
beneath a new layer of dust