Claire V. Bogdanos

The walls about familiar be

They are a comfort here to me

The air I breathe is full of scents

And gathers round as my defense.

I find the years have winnowed down

The items I now keep around

Perhaps with time we all abuse

The many things we fail to use.

Some dear old friends remain intact

A cherished book that’s eared exact

A box of photos on the shelf

Mementos of my younger self.

Whoever thought I’d live so long

I would declare that they were wrong

Four score and five is time enough

To gather tons of extra stuff !