She may take
only what fits
in three dresser drawers.

Stockings, nighties, panties, bras,
dresses, slacks, blouses…
How do you reduce 82 years
to three dresser drawers?

What about the photos, the knick knacks,
the inexpensive jewerly from her late husband?
The piano she still plays, the rolling pin and stand mixer?
The wing chair by the front window?
His tools hanging on the pegboard in the garage?
Three dresser drawers?

Cane-enabled,
she walks one last time through the house,
her grieving heart snapping final memories:
these and three dresser drawers,
all that will remain.

Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.