In a box under my bed,
diary, like a mouse
Memories of my sister in the city
New York, New York
Postcards sent from Times Square
Bubblegum I’ll never chew
and the file I’ve never ran
across my jagged nails.
Birthday cake, cheesecake,
Walls smothered, covered,
consumed by Hanson posters
Report cards dressed to the nines
and scenes from Willy Wonka, Alice in Wonderland
Nightmares, worthwhile scares
chainsaws and atomic bombs
Running away in my tennis shoes,
track spikes, chased by alligators
Little boys in rubber masks
Photographs and the comb I’ve seldom used.
Mother’s in the kitchen with the cheese grate,
Father’s mowing the lawn, pulling out his wallet
Brother’s feeding his turtle,
Sister’s running with scissors
In a little house, on a quiet loop
and I’m having tater tots for dinner.

This is very charming and quirky. Well written.