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Susan K. Rowse

Treasures in a Box

It was there.
Small chest made of wood
from the great Sequoias of California.
It had a small lock that was broken now...
perhaps from an inquisitive relative.
My dearest uncle.
Gone.
Passed to the great world of adventures...
beyond earth time.
This was personal...his belongings...
These treasures.
Mysteries of the heart.
The opening brought a throat very full.
Small yellowed photos...
some smiles of years and years.
There was my Nana..pioneer woman.
Received her masters from Stanford at 82 years old...
Photo of her graduation.
Floyd and Lloyd...brothers..identical twins.
Love between two.
Unknown for most siblings.
Devotion and dedication through a lifetime.
The orphanage where they grew up.
Sadness felt for being the two of five to be given up to this situation.
Why them instead of the other sisters?
They were bound to each other.
In a world of wars and one parent household.
The Children's Home...blank,
unfeeling for two boys.
Treasures in a box.
Me...just me...Susan
Photos since birth.
Running timelines of my youth.
Me at puberty...
First bikini...
The poet self portrait.
Living in Europe.
All treasures to a man of wealth.
His treasures of the heart.
Locked up for safe keeping.
My inheritance from him.
Sadness and love.
For me, devotion.
I didn't know.
I was so treasured