having never acquired the knack
she was not a letter-goer of things
and stored thoughts much like

the well traveled woman collected knickknacks
memories displayed themselves on disorganized
shelves in the crevices of her mind

giving her an eccentric air
some thought charming
her speech jumble

she talks of silk dresses
and closed fountains
as though it were only

yesterday, when in fact
her disappointments are decades
old resentments lie like

dust around her thoughts
clogging her collections
making clear view of her assortment

impossible
she would write them down
if only releasing them

these images words
olfactory triggers did not feel
so much like giving away

children
she was not a
letter-goer of things

preferring instead to
hoard her memories
in full knowledge that one day

they
will
drown
her.