the lock box

[sasha]

up in the attic
amidst the clutter of the past
(the christmas ornaments
the baby paraphernalia
the broken lamps i haven't yet
gotten around to fixing)
there's a small wooden box
padlocked shut


i chanced upon the key one day
somewhere near my heart
so i opened it
and within
found her


as raindrops pattered overhead
dancing on the roof
with a thousand tiny feet
as gray daylight
through rivulets on the panes
cast misty shadows in the dust
i sat in the attic
alone
examining the treasures
this box
enshrined


it held the moment
we sat on her bed
turning one by one
the cards
telling us what we already knew
that the warmth
within that room
was love


and also the time
our lips first touched
tremulous
uncertain
frightened of the desires
seething within


it contained her giggle
the way she chewed her lip
in concentration


the images
of her large gray eyes
the mole by her left eyebrow
and the one
on the slope of her breast


and oh,
the exquisite curves
of her hips
and cheekbones


it recalled the day
on the old railroad grade
when she took my hand
and refused to budge
until i'd kissed her


and how
on a chilly april evening
she'd pressed against me
for warmth


it held the moment
my hands first felt
the warm skin of her back


the way she so fearlessly
pressed ahead of me
exploring the woods by the pond


the way she squealed with delight
the first time i made her
dippy eggs


the way her fingers
would twirl twirl her hair
the way she'd nibble the russet strands
the way they'd so playfully dance
in a gentle breeze


the way she held
with such infinite care
and tenderness
an injured bird


the way our bodies
swayed in perfect time
and synchrony
to the music


the way she sighed
whenever i rubbed her feet


the way she gasped
whenever i entered her


the way her hair
tickled my nose
upon awakening


and now these tears
running freely down my cheeks
assure me
that every smile she graced me with
every laugh she anointed me in
every endearment she returned
is a gift
i shall cherish
forever


RIP, Holly... 1968-2015

[judih]

gorgeous, Roy.
may she rest in peace and blossom further within your creative homage

[sasha]

thanks, judi - I posted an early draft of this at Arcanum long after we'd fallen out of touch, but long before I learned of her death. She altered my trajectory through life and I've never forgotten her. Unwisely, I followed a LinkedIn friend-of-a-friend trail that led eventually to her obituary. In the photo she's wearing the necklace I'd given her on our last Christmas together... no grief (I'd worked that out long ago), just a profound sadness that someone so young & lovely, someone I'd loved, was taken away so early... She was on my mind today because Friday is the anniversary of her passing...

[saw]

breathtaking
the honesty, the love
simply terrific
best thing I've read in a good while
the images were searing
thank you

[mnaz]

What saw said. Amazing piece.

[sasha]

steve, mark - thank you

[Doreen Peri]

Beautiful!

[creativesoul]

Beautiful

[Terri]

moved me to tears. a wonderful piece.

i'm so sorry for your loss.

[sasha]

doreen, jana, terri - thanks all, glad I was able to touch you

well, you know what I mean

[creativesoul]

Ha ha you did