The Chest of Many Drawers

How many ways you portray the past, the present, the future. Different drawers for different things A place for every user.

Drawer number five reminds me when
Dad was alive. Through World War Two
He promised Mom he'd survive. That he
did and I as a kid sneaked a peek hoping
no one would hear the squeak as I slid
open a treasure in 5 beyond measure--a
ton of metals he'd won, photos of planes,
him and his buddies boarding a train and
his German Luger from a soldier he'd
killed. The coldness of the barrel gave
me the chills. They called him a hero in the
news article folded below the flag. Yet I
never once heard him brag.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seven was indeed a mystery, part
of our ancestry. Grandmother was half
Jewish, though few knew it. The
drawer had a false bottom; Grammy
worried America had gladly forgot them,
Immigrant Jews, sadly only a few
allowed to come, hard to tell, most
were sent to Israel. So Diamonds
and rubies were sequestered away,
for when again Jews would have to
run away. Dolefully she's still in that
mode, the number 7, part of her
forearm's tattooed German code.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But wait! There are more drawers than eight.
What does this last row provide
From our eyes what does it hide?
Future hopes, past joys,
or just a lot of toys.
Some drawers that are full need to be emptied.
Some drawers that are empty need to be filled.
Oh the possibilities hidden in those drawers!
By them I am thrilled.

Drawer ten remembers so many things
School and learning and smiles it brings!
We had recess! We went outside to play!
Friends who last forever, to this very day!
National church day - did you have one?
We went to a church across the way.
A church across the parking lot but now it is gone.
Competition among friends to see who could do best
So much fun! Those times were blest!