Student Publishing Program ::

Anna B.

Spring Cleaning

I picked up the velvet bound
book from the mound of junk
waiting to be sorted.

The lock was clamped
shut around the covers,
its silver teeth sunk deep
into the soft worn shroud.

I tried to pry the corners apart,
but the slivers of pages I glimpsed
blinked incoherent words whose
meaning puffed into a wisp of
smoke. The soothing warmth
of memories lay locked inside.

I tugged at the clasp, ripped
at the strap, but there was no
wrenching the diary open.
So finally I flung the bundle
into the trash basket,
hauled it outside with
all the other junk I’d
cleared out of my closet,
and returned to sorting.

Moments later, I tore
back out to the curb.
The trash truck was
already there.
Shivering, I watched
as it mauled my hopes.
The chill of a tiny key
pressed into my palm.

[TABLE OF CONTENTS, LHS CLASS OF 2011 EDITION]