Graduation

Stop
Take a picture
Before moving on,
Dumping it all
Into a black plastic bag
Stretched to the max
With childhood memories

Clump of medals
As thick as a textbook
Hanging from
The corner of the mirror
Just below them are
Paper plate awards
And
The shiny trophy

Gold Bond,
And a candle,
A picture from when
Today was just
A date on a distant calendar,
Dancing around in circles
In a tutu,
Ink fading,
Black and white

Pink plastic aviators,
The fake miniature
Christmas tree
Next to the
Picture frame
With a postcard from
Shedd in eighth grade…
Poster for a play
And a stack of change

Pick one thing up
After another
Theatre award,
Varsity letter,
Candy cane,
Lucky penny,
Dump it all

Goodbye
Look up into the mirror
It used to be taller
Glass is smudged
Dust on the dresser
Walk away
Don’t cry.