Treasured Past

Treasured Past

A legacy left in an old wooden chest
of many years ago.
The lock when opened, will reveal the past
of what life did once bestow.

A silken sheet, once pure and white
now its colour is tinged with years.
A Bible bound in tarnished gold,
more fragile than it appears.

A Loving Cup engraved with love
the names so intertwined.
Till death do we part and longer still,
so intricately designed.

The musty smell of time gone by
the twirling dust of age,
I feel their presence by my side
as I turn another page.

Photographs in sepia brown,
of a couple with a child.
I held it close to my heart
and inwardly I smiled.

Their lives lay in this chest of wood,
a treasure I had found.
A ribbon tied round bands of gold,
of the love that they had bound.

Letters and clothing of the past,
all carefully laid to rest.
I'd had the honour of seeing their lives
in the bottom of this chest.

So carefully without no fuss,
I closed the lid once more.
With one last look, I turned away
and locked the attic door.

Copyright Karen Canning