Basket of Strawberries

--by Hadassah Reich

I want to read all the books on my shelf. Instead I bought another one, Abandoned and collecting dust. When was the last time I had a thought? Instead I bought another one, Stacked with shiny new words. When was the last time I had a thought About my hopes and wishes and dreams? A dictionary stacked with words. Sort through my alphabetized mind Of hopes and anxieties and dreams And all the chapter titles that define me. Sort through my alphabetized mind. I forget friends, dates and memories And all the chapter titles that define me. I am broken china on a table of contents. I want to hold on to friends and memories Like Ima’s hand when crossing the street. To flip back to the table of contents, And frolic in a field full of strawberries. One hand with Ima’s when crossing the street. The other dragging from the weight Of a wicker basket full of strawberries. We’ll have to wait to enjoy them. My mind is dragging from the weight Of all the books on my shelf. I’ll have to wait to enjoy them, Abandoned and collecting dust.