Paper Beads

While emptying out the cardboard box
of contents lying there
she spied an object just beneath
a bottle she thought rare
Removing treasures one by one
with memories to share
she thought about her yesterdays
and living without a care
When children slammed the entry doors
and stomped from room to room
where crumbs were dropped in corners
and the TV seemed to boom
Where silence seemed to never be
and quietness was rare
and yet those days were happiness
which nothing can compare
But time like lightning seems to zip
away without a warning
and all too soon the emptying
of boxes and the planning
take precedence o’er other thoughts
until which time one sees
an object which sparks memories
a string of paper beads
Past and present seem to merge
as tears began to flow
Why does time do heartless things
Where did my lifetime go..
We can’t go back to other times
of gifts for Mother’s day
Where innocent children rolled with care
the beads she got that day.
Diamonds would not touch her heart
like simple paper beads
and as she tossed the empty box
she clung to memories.

©vrd 8/31/05