5/27/12

The Music Box
By Mike Berger


The fire was devastating;
our house went up in flames.
Fortunately, we were away
and our house could be replaced.

The tragedy was the loss of
things you can't replace. There
were albums and family pictures.
My wife's doll collection was now
a pile of ashes.

When you get old, you accumulate
a lot of memorabilia. It all went up
in smoke; we were brokenhearted.

Friends and family gathered to
help us sort through the ashes.
There wasn't much left but charred
remains.

I found an old music box. It was
burned black but was still intact.
Cautiously I opened the lid.

I gave that box to my little bride
when I came home from the service.
It played, "Unchained Melody."

"Oh my love my darling, I've hungered
for your touch a long lonely time."

I took my wife in my arms and suddenly
things didn't matter. There were tears in
our eyes.


- - -
I am Mike Berger, MFA in creative writing. I am now retired and writing poetry full time. I have only been writing for three years. I have had good success publishing and have authored seven poetry chapbooks.