Important Things

As children we stack blocks,

instinctively building castles

to house our treasures.

 

We learn to create containers

and put important things into them,

because Important Things must be contained.

 

put away your toys

your books

your dreams

 

When did dreams become

angular, solid – Things –

capable of being contained?

 

I don’t remember how old I was

when I started collecting boxes.

No one taught me, but I learned.

 

The boxes themselves became Important

Things requiring containment

inside other boxes.

 

            put away your fantasies

                        tuck them inside your visions

                                    stack them upon your dreams

 

Like nesting dolls, my boxes sat empty

but for each other and the illusion

of treasure contained.

 

I have always kept boxes – perhaps

to remind myself that Things

and Dreams are seldom the same.