If I don’t see you before I go,

I would like you to keep me

In this brown covered

Paper box

Tied in lace and silk ribbon

I want you to save me

Under your bed

Save me for raindrops that

caress the glass

when you feel lonely,

and bed sheets have no purpose

but to keep you awake

and it all makes you shiver

and the clawing of bare arm

molds the pieces into something

pretty

Untie my lace and ribbon,

Gently and sweetly

Do not let the decaying pear alarm you,

Or the blank letters and photographs of

Strangers in windows

The knotted straw strings and it’s

Red little beads