sorting through yesterdays

in the early morning

rain

i clean out

some drawers, some boxes

in the attic

some stacked

high in the laundry room,

on the cellar floor.

old

things from the seventies

then eighties,

then nineties.

it's an archeology dig

of sorts.

memory lane

with a twisted road

full

of abrupt detours.

picture frames with

photos of loves lost

still

behind the glass.

rings

and watches.

a card, a note, a napkin

with a lipstick stain.

i find a nylon stocking.

and a heel,

red valentine

things, tucked away

and safely

stored, but for what?

a tool belt

holding lipstick and perfume.

slowly

i take each item out.

it's a long long day,

a journey

backwards and before

long it's no

longer afternoon, and i

don't have the courage to

throw a single thing away.