William C Ross’ most recent poem to appear here was Dog Days Quintet (August 2012).
Old Keys
By William C Ross
By William C Ross
Metal memories line an old cigar box,
a congress of keys that have outlived their locks,
and some, their doors and buildings, as well–
and all with a silent story to tell.
a congress of keys that have outlived their locks,
and some, their doors and buildings, as well–
and all with a silent story to tell.
Apartments, houses, an office, a car.
Cabins and cabinets with doors now ajar.
With nothing to protect or be protected from,
these rusting relics hold none of yesterday’s aplomb.
This key to a diary was the key to your heart.
What secret pleasure did it impart
to lock love in and out at will?
And are those secrets secret still?
There is nothing more useless than a purposeless key.
We no longer need their security,
and all they unlocked are now memories,
so tell me, why did we keep those old keys?
Great poem. Now excuse me; I have to clean out the key drawer.
Lovely poem of a universal situation. Its language sings.