Hidden memories

High up on a shelf

amongst the ordinary
high heels, sandals, winter boots
wool, silk, soft denim

are bits of life

soft green blanket, a ghost of its former self
worn thin by sweet baby hands grasping, holding, loving

Purple Barney,who brought unbridled joy one Christmas morning
never to be equalled in years to come

Kindergarden book bags ... one for each child
filled with mementos of school days gone by ....
construction paper creations, report cards, glowing notes from favored teachers

These bits of life

Keepsakes that at one time held places of prominence in our home, a bed, a shelf, the refrigerator door

now reside high up on a closet shelf, tucked away

but not forgotten

melancholy days come to call .....

I pull out the step ladder and one by one

I sift through these bits of life

reminiscing of days long past

afternoons tucking a soft green blanket around a sleeping beauty
whisking barney away for a quick cleaning while a little boy sleeps unaware
checking book bags for forgotten permission slips and teacher notes

Sometimes these tokens bring tears, a longing to return to simpler days

But mostly they bring warmth and a smile

a smile at a life lived full