not so strange a thing at all

come in, come in
dear friend!
so good to see you!

indeed, 'tis good to meet you again
we have spoken so little
these past years
how fare you?

ah, though i did stumble
and stagger, and weep
long ago, when i was young,
i fare well now.
and yourself?

indeed, i fare well
spouse and children are well
business is well
thank you for asking

would you like a drink?

yes, please.
oh!

what is it?

that bookshelf!
i did not spot it till now!
what a color!
how came it to be such a vivid red?

that bookshelf?
ah, that one
it is a hardwood, walnut
stained with blood
here is some tea.

ah. i'm sorry i asked.

don't be.
it has a story behind it.
but no time now to tell it.

it is alright.
but, now i must attempt
to satisfy my curiosity once again;
that box, on the shelf
it looks strange indeed
so pale, almost as if it might be translucent
might i ask, what is it made of?

indeed, that box
the very one you speak of,
'tis carved of bone
and its inside lined with skin

ah, i see
i'm sorry i asked

don't be.
it also has a tale to tell
but no time to tell it.

i see.
let us change the subject.

lets.

how fares your family?

alas, all but my uncle are dead
and he near death himself

what? even your sister?

yes, even fair sister.
her weak heart did her in

i'm sorry, i didn't know.

it is alright.

...

...

if you might permit me
to change the subject again...

go right ahead

i'm almost afraid to ask...
but what is in that white box?

that box?
it is full, to the top,
of shattered, broken dreams.

...broken...dreams, you said?

yes.

and...how is that,
might i ask?

all the hopes and dreams of mine
and those of sister
and mother, and father,
and some uncles and aunts and cousins, too
all those that were shattered as life was lived
these were collected and saved
and put in a box
made of bone
to be saved on a shelf
stained with blood.

and...why, might i inquire?
it does seem a rather odd habit
to me.

not so strange, i think.
for whoever wants to dream
and hope
can come and look
into the box
and see what others might have hoped for
once
and then they can take pieces
and fit them together
like a jigsaw puzzle
and make for them self
a unique dream or hope.
would you like to look?

i think i would...
i am curious now.

here, i will open it up.

ahh...
what dreams...
though they are but fragments,
they reflect, refract, the light
like diamonds
though...imperfectly
i think i understand now...

i am glad.
sister would be pleased.

indeed...
not so strange a thing, after all...