how to unpack too much stuff:

you sipped 
coffee 
from a blue mug 

the one with the chip 
that i refused to drink out of 
afraid to cut my lip 

we unpacked 
308 boxes 
you kept tally on the newspaper 
in red marker 

all into blue cupboards that you 
insisted would change our destiny 

the countertops were white tile
and littered with sea glass 
which was often jagged and found on the roadside 
rather than the beach 

the windows were always 
open 
because when you were inside you missed the flowers 

I filled baskets 
with plums that you carved out of soap 

and wrote you love notes 
on the backs of playing cards 
leaving them carelessly for you to find 

the flowers were often 
too tall for your taste 

but I never let you cut them 
scared if the soil was too close 
it would steal their souls 

I switched from jeans to dresses 
this year 
made of cotton and lace 

and we sewed denim patches into all of our 
torn jackets 

and now we sit in rain boots 
and sip cold coffee 

and eat peanut butter straight from the jar 
(because we have so much) 
 

gaia_lenox

VT

YWP Alumni

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