THE BOX


The day was light and warm
I was in a forest of green
No one was around for miles
Or so it seemed

The trees found me
At a time when I felt lost
I let them embrace me
Hold me in their branches

I was finally at peace
With the world
This moment was all that mattered
I just smiled

All the troubles
I ever had just faded away
I had time to think
To reflect

As I remembered family and friends
And some of the torments
The injustice that
Had consumed me

The tree whispered
I listened but did not understand
I decided it took a special
Talent to hear a tree

Then I heard a laugh
I felt foolish
But that soon passed
And I laughed aloud

The pain of my memories
Went off into the air
I was free of them
I sat up against the tree

I think I fell asleep
Some leafs tumbled
Through the air
And landed at my feet

I heard or rather I think I did
It may have been the wind
It said to look behind the tree
There was no one around

So I moved to the far side
To my surprise
There was a small box
What an odd thing

Why hadn�t I noticed it before
I picked it up
It was weathered from the rain
And a little dirty

It was light
I tossed it up
Then caught it
I wasn�t sure if I should open it

Then that voice again
I was a bit bothered
By a bodiless voice
It made me feel insecure

After all I was alone
So I lifted the lid
Ever so slightly
And took a peek

Nothing it was empty
Should I cry at this treasure
I sat back down
I waited for hours

For that voice This is turning into a strange day
Voices and empty boxes
What next Little fairies dancing in the wind

What good is a dirty old box
Then that voice again
This time it was amused
So I asked it

Tell me of this box
Another pause
Take all of the evil in the world
And put into the box

Well that was a tall order
How will I do this great feat
Just dream it I was told
So I put my head back on the tree

I let my mind wander
This is hard to believe
But I felt like a falling leaf
For an instant all the evil was gone


Michael V Hechtman