the velvet box

as a child,

after my father left,

i opened up the box

on my mother's dresser.

a small

velvet box.

out came music,

a beautiful tinkling

of sound,

and when it closed,

the music stopped.

but for a moment

a tiny ballerina 

swung around in a circle.

such joy.

but such sorrow too

in knowing

that the music stops.