Hello PoetryVoting

Vote

Voting-Boards

Home

HomeFollowingInboxNotifications

Read

ReadLiftedFeedsHeartedHistoryMy poemsNew poem

Explore

ExploreOrbitsWordsTagsClassics
Log in
0
Stars
0
Embers
0
Alerts
0
Inbox

Vote

Voting-Boards

Home

HomeFollowingInboxNotifications

Read

ReadLiftedFeedsHeartedHistoryMy poemsNew poem

Explore

ExploreOrbitsWordsTagsClassics
Log in
0
Stars
0
Embers
0
Alerts
0
Inbox

One Box for Treasures

I burned my house down to make room for your boxes. They're locked, you say, from the inside out. But they're worth the fire, because you look at them like it hurts not to. You won't tell me what's inside, so I take guesses. One box for memories - the big one, with the heavy bolt. One box for lost things (dog collars, wooden whistles, A sky full of stars). Things you don't find when you're looking. I'm made of broken gazes, an anvil and a glass basket. I'm made of burning houses, and the way I lock myself from the inside out (and I never wanted to be boxes, but I can't help that they fit so well). Won't you look for keys? Tear your eyes from the corner where the heavy bolt sits, smiling at you with buckled lips. Won't you look for keys? Stare me down, acid rain that burns up glass and makes stars shudder (smoke and fire). I burned my house down to make room for your boxes. They're locked, you say, and I wish they were cardboard and flammable, like you're not, and I can't be (I'm locked glass, I'm already lit, inside out inside out inside out). One box for treasures (I can't fit in that one). One box for memories, without any more room. One box for lost things, and I could move, but my skin against stars would clatter and melt (smoke and fire).
Request permission to use this poem
Written by
katherine-bogen
American
Published
May 8, 2012
Lines·Words
57·243
Permission

Request to use this poem

Tell katherine-bogen how you would like to use it. We review requests before forwarding them.

AboutBlogFAQPrivacyTermsContact
© 2009-2026 Hello Poetry/v27.0 by @eliotyork
Explore
Hello PoetryVoting
Write