I gathered up the last
of her today
and
put it in
a box

her dress,
her apron,
her robe,
her jacket

that’s all that’s left of her
that’s what’s left of our
love

the box sits now
watching
sternly sending
me a simple
message

you will face me

you will put an end
to this

and it waits for me
to take that box,
full of what’s
left of
her and I,
and go give
it back
to her

because,
in the end,
all these things belong
to her
and,
in the end,
they must eventually
be returned