memories in shadows.........

hands lingering over lingerie plucking at threads...............

....................silky folds falling between soft scented sachets and the treasures of a lifetime..........

..............fingers plucking pearly buttons and sorting socks set aside..............

and the memories overwhelming..............

feet treading carefully on worn wooden steps creaking

 up and up and up

to dim light and wooden boxes shut tight........

shut tight against the shadows..............and the memories........

remnants of Christmas ribbon and ornaments from young granddaughters and prom gown crinolines and old Louisa May Alcott books and rusty doll carriages and high school graduation posters and old valises tucked away....



.................in those shadows............

.....................................and the memories.............


and my hands lingering over the pages that she once turned as a young girl and the eyes that fill with tears because so much was left unsaid.............
 ..............unshared 

............................unplanned............

..........and the memories, they carry on, in my mind

.............................in my heart............

and those memories will carry my feet down wooden steps creaking with age

this post was written after reflecting on my time spent in my mother's bedroom and attic space while visiting my dad.........