Old-fashioned suitcases, the ones without wheels…
Such treasures themselves for the memories they held.
Skippered with no regard to a life-time of service,
disposed of – as I myself have been disposed of…
Perhaps a keen eye will fall over the rubbish bin’s wall
and take you home, give you a new life, if only
as under-bed storage. Or repainted in bright colours
to hold precious memories – like I did. Not wanting
the finality of ‘throwing away’ mum and dad, two
well-worn suitcases proudly sit in our lounge now
re-vamped, with children’s toys sharing in a new life
through the lives of my precious grand-children,
seeing their excited faces every time they lift the lid
to sort through and grab some treasure of their own.
The painted, bright-coloured flowers will never fade.
Frances Macaulay Forde © 2015
