the milk box

you  go
to the front porch
as the sun
comes up
and reach down
for a quart
of milk
in a glass
bottle.
but you lift
the silver lid
of the silver
box and find
nothing. it's
no longer
nineteen sixty-six.
where has
the milk gone.
where has
the time gone.
who is this person
in a robe
and slippers
expecting milk.
his reflection not
unlike
your father's
in the glass storm
door.