frail hinges pivot 
on a case's door 
commemorative 
souvenirs from places 
containers change with occasion 

cellophane encased 
displaying paper 
certificate 
credit years of service 
a tool of central enterprises 

the early hope 
for permanence 
the words the rings 
consistency 
and social security 
the miracles high tragedy 

a thought mistaken for a memory 
dress lengths assassinations 
fractured family ties and christenings 

local posts will list your friends 
in order of disappearance 
lawn scattered tins feed birds 
the portion baked 
for absent guests 

the mass edition icon 
god sent comfort 
your salvation 
but who grants absolution 
for sins that never were committed 

tension makes a tangle 
of each thought becomes 
inconvenience 
sound never penetrates 
the servile edges break and faint 

a thought mistaken for a memory 
clear the dust 
from smiles in boxes 
pass the patterned wall 
recall their voices