Found things

After her death,

We cleared out Mother’s house.

Among the found things were

A stained brown envelope with a marriage license from 1932

A jewelry chest full of baubles we never saw her wear

In with the baubles, wrapped in plastic, someone’s baby teeth

An old leather bound Bible we never saw her read

Pressed within its pages, a ringlet of hair, mine I am sure

A four leaf clover

A dried dragonfly

My baby picture, wallet size

In her ancient trunk,

A folded fur, musty smelling

A letter belonging to her mother, who had a lover, dated 1887

Inside the fur, opera glasses

A moth-eaten raggedy Ann (her childhood friend?)

Hat boxes without hats

In fuzzy black and white, she and Dad on the grass

And

A new brown envelope from the Hospital

She never showed us, never showed us.

All gone now.

 

20 Comments

  1. Poignant and powerful…

    Liked by 1 person

  2. -Eugenia says:

    This a wonderful piece. Compelling and touching – beautifully written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lee Dunn says:

      Thanks so much.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. This tugs on the strings attached to the deepenest emotions. Such powerful imagery! I admire your writing style and would love to get your feedback on my work. Stop over at my blog sometimes, and feel free to utilize the post comments to share your thoughts. I am looking forward to reading your subsequent work.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. “A new brown envelope from the Hospital

    She never showed us, never showed us.”
    This is so poignant and devastating. Very moving.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Noor says:

    This is so beautiful

    Liked by 1 person

  6. This almost teared me up? Is it all true? I’m so sorry for your loss. And this line ‘In with the baubles, wrapped in plastic, someone’s baby teeth’, it just shows how pure your mother’s love was that she valued her child’s tooth as much as jewellery. Loved this piece!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lee Dunn says:

      It was many years ago when we emptied my mother’s house.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You must still be able to feel the loss to be able to express every memory so vividly. But then the loss of a loved one never goes away.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. isabelle says:

    So much love in the found things, so beautifully written, and so deeply touching.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lee Dunn says:

      Thank you, Isabelle…the things that affect us so deeply come out in our writing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. isabelle says:

        You’re so so right! How did you manage to speak my mind I wonder 🧐 Thank you!

        Liked by 1 person

  8. This is what I call consummate skill.

    Reblogging this to my sister site, Success Inspirers World 🏆

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lee Dunn says:

      Thank you, Ana. Coming from you, those words are something I will treasure.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Arbie says:

    Oh gosh that ending is really sad and you know I’m not sure sad is the word I’m looking for. It brought a bunch of emotions up in me. Really wonderful. 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lee Dunn says:

      Thank you, Arbie.

      Like

    1. Lee Dunn says:

      Thank you, Deborah.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Damn! I had a tear in my eyes while reading this.
    So powerful I must say!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lee Dunn says:

      Thank you so much.

      Like

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