The Box

The Box



I found a box on the sidewalk today

a torn, flimsy box

Picking it up

it gives a little between my hands


And if this box could find the strength to speak

It would tell about the time

three Christmases ago

when a little boy up the road awoke that morning

to find a tiny black kitten sleeping in this very box



It would tell about the time

many, many nights ago

when a betrayed woman had finally had enough

and left into the night with everything she had in this very box



It would tell about the time

so many winters ago

when a homeless man with no one to talk to

kept a picture of his children dry in this very box



It would tell about the time

so long ago

when a heartbroken boy shot himself in the head

after taping a goodbye letter to the side of this very box



I found a box on the sidewalk today

a torn, flimsy box

Kicking it aside

I continued on my way