We had a thief to clean our house
And she really did clean us out.
I didn't lock up my jewelry.
So, she took the pieces away,
And replaced them with tawdry fakes.
But I didn't notice at all
Because I had sleep apnea.
So, I walked in a haze all day.
It wasn't only jewelry.
She helped herself to ornaments
Hanging on our Christmas tree.
And a pair of pewter mushrooms,
That were salt and pepper shakers.
And a hundred dollar bill and
My dad's old wallet that I'd kept,
After he died,
With a photo of mom inside.
In the end we stopped the service.
Then I heaved a sigh of relief
To be fully done with that thief.
But one day I was going through
My son's night table, just to see
Where else her light fingers had been
After everything you wouldn't think
That anything could touch me when
I saw the empty box and knew
She'd swiped his baptism candle, too.
-
Author:
PerditaRose (
Offline) - Published: December 1st, 2025 19:50
- Comment from author about the poem: I'm embarrassed to say that this is a true story.
- Category: family
- Views: 12
Offline)
Comments2
I empathize, I have had important things stolen as has my wife some by workers, baby sitters and people I thought were friends. My mind kept going back to Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. A good write
There's no point in locking the door, if you've already given them the key. There are many worse things to have happen, but it's still pretty bad.
One might change the locks while another suffers the loss in hopes that the thief may become a better person through letting them know that you know but have made them a present. To each their own way
My late dad taught me many wise things that I live by. One is that when things go wrong, before you blame others, look at what you contributed to the situation. Another, treasure the memories not the things. Most of us have had tradespeople or visitors take advantage at some point. I try (not always successfully) to think of it as my charitable contribution. Thanks for sharing your own gracious, humane reactions so thoughtfully composed. See, without the crimes, we'd lose the rhymes.
I thank you for your comments. I agree with you in part. I also know that I must forgive others, if I expect my own sins to be forgiven. But sometimes this backs up on me. There are other things I could have written in this poem. I am sorry you take issue with what I have written. In the future, I will try to be more circumspect in what I write.
I take NO issue with your sincere and thoughtful reaction! I fear I have not been clear... your piece is perfect. It reveals your humanity struggling to forgive but feeling real loss and anger. You go girl. Poetry is the last place for holding back!!
Oh, that's what you meant. Isn't it amazing that a language with so many words can still manage to be ambiguous? Thank you for telling me. I was pretty bummed out.
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