Our Sunday Night Swagger Writers Group has decided to post poems from a prompt on the first Friday of the month. Last month Heidi Mordhorst challenged us to definito poems. This month Catherine Flynn prompted us to write about a box:
- Who was the owner of the box?
- How did what is inside the box transform him or her?
Having acquired some things from my parents’ home this summer, I knew what box I would write about. My grandmother whom I called Nene died when I was young, between 8 and 10. I remember so much about her, her white-white hair, how she sewed beautiful Barbie clothes and even made doll furniture from cardboard, and how she loved butterflies. She had a pinned collection in a shadow box. But that isn’t the box of this poem. I had never seen this box before. It was tucked inside a cardboard box of mementos from my father’s childhood.
(draft) Margaret Simon
This is Her Box
that touched her hands
so many years ago.
A small brass box
that fits in the palm of my hand.
What did these things
mean to her?
a tarnished silver spoon,
jeweled pin,
wire-framed butterfly,
silver post earrings–
I put on the charm bracelet;
Grands’ names in birth order
become my connection to her.
All tucked into her box
for me to find
fifty years later
and remember
her touch.
See other box poems from my writer friends:
Catherine Flynn: Reading to the Core
Molly Hogan: Nix the Comfort Zone
Heidi Mordhorst: My Juicy Little Universe
Linda Mitchell: A Word Edgewise
Reflections on the Teche 
Remembering her touch….what a lovely last line to this poem. So many of us can really connect with that. Gosh, I miss my Grandmothers. I think more so now than when I lost them.
I love the idea of a box poem! And yours sparked so many memories of my own grandmother, who also loved butterflies and had several pieces of butterfly jewelry that I still wear. Thank you for sharing!
How wonderful that you just discovered this, Margaret. Your poem shows a wonder, a wistfulness to ask questions. If only we could!
It’s lovely to be able to see the box and its contents, but even without that, the wistfulness that Linda mentions comes through powerfully. It’s all those specifics, and most of the memory of her touch.
Margaret, I love so many things about this poem. The specific details give us a sense of your Nene, your curiosity about her, and your longing for her touch. Beautiful.
I love the detailed imagery of this poem, Margaret. I love that the contents allowed you to remember her touch. It’s beautiful.
I love this poem! I agree wholeheartedly with the comments about the details and about the wonderful ending — reconnecting with her touch. Beautiful!
I love the 1st and last stanzas in your poem Margaret–it feels as if you are carefully pealing back the layers of time and bringing us into your Nene’s world–and it’s full of story, thanks for taking us there…
Wow. What a precious find.
What a treasure of a box and a poem. Like the others, those specific items hit home.
I feel the nostalgia and the connection very well. I think the repetition of the word ‘touch’ accomplishes the connection for me. Well done!
What a lovely tribute to a much loved grandma! Thanks for sharing your special “box” poem this Poetry Friday!