Bobbie Troy’s most recent poem to appear here was “Layers of Time” (September 2018). 

Memories
By Bobbie Troy

we save them in cardboard boxes

old photos
from black and white
to color
now all digital
on our phones

we save them in plastic boxes
old CDs and DVDs
even some old film
of various millimeter sizes

we save them in binders
writings and awards
from kindergarten, elementary and
high school, and beyond

we save them in envelopes
greeting cards of all types
and our children’s and grandchildren’s drawings
carefully labeled with the year

we say that when we retire
we will organize everything
for our children and grandchildren
to enjoy and pass on
and appreciate
so that when we are gone
we become the memories
that we saved and cherished