I will put in the box

The first conga in the sapphire blue nursery
Tears from the cheerless eyes of my past
The first word spoken by a beautiful young baby

I will put in the box

A picnic of ham sandwiches in our car
The opening of a door to the vast holiday home
A spark from an active sparkler when it was Halloween

I will put in the box

The ear splitting shriek of my sister breaking her bones
The last laugh of my ancient Great Grandmother
And the first glimpse of my Step Mother’s thrilled face

My box is fashioned with game consoles and books
With pictures of the rain and the sun on the lid
With secrets in the depths of its corners
And a steel lock so no one can ever get in

I shall surf in my box
In the turquoise waves of the Caribbean
And then play in the palm trees
With my family members until the sun goes down