Boxes in the Basement

I'm packing up our dreams

in copy paper boxes and

plastic storage containers --

lighthouse ornaments,

lighthouse tour maps,

and guide books to every

lighthouse along the shores

of Lake Michigan --

and storing them in the basement.

Perhaps one day I will

drop them off at Goodwill.

But for today,

in order to survive the pain,

I must box them up

and put them away.

You left me, our family,

our plans, our goals,

and boxes and boxes

of dreams

behind.