Grandpa had a basket
Of mementos
He used to look at
All the time

Little things
With great meaning
Accumulated over ninety years
Were in that basket

Before his stroke
Grandpa used to read us a letter
From the President
It was the basket's prize

Every visit
Every time
Every chance
He showed us his treasures

Our letters
Our pictures
Our postcards
Were not in Grandpa's basket

Not until he went
To the home.

After Grandpa died
Mom told us
About the basket's additions

Grandpa wanted
Our letters
Our pictures
Our postcards
With him at the end

Heartfelt words
Long since sent
Treasured a lifetime

It took
So little time
So little effort
So little care
For us
To create emotion
Sustaining forever

Our marriage has its own treasures
Locks of hair
Slides of Montmartre'
Sanibel seashells
Caribbean coral
Grandma's fur collar

Most of our keepsakes
Fit in a basket too

Carole D. Bos
Marriage Is A Balance Beam