Beth Lykins

TheTalisman

I washed you away today. 
I marched right in there 
and gathered your things 
(it's only been seven months
since you left me last spring.) 
Like a good girl 
I turned every pocket 
and searched every cuff 
for a stray golden locket
or any small thing
that might go ker-clunk! 
I shoved a determined 
and boldly unclad hand 
into a smelly old pocket 
and locked my fingers 
not on that locket
but a crusty old tissue.
Oh my GOD - ewwww!
But then…
Everything stopped.

I was holding you.

You always had this funny way 
of using Viva paper towels 
instead of a Kleenex, 
like everyone else. 
My heart raced away
into the past.
How long could this moment
possibly last?
Here was incontrovertible proof 
that you really were there! 
I clutched my newfound treasure 
tightly in my hands
and held it, this sacred talisman 
that could fight off 
the coldest darkness of night. 

Then my logical mind broke 
this spell I was under 
and said, "Put your faith 
in a snot rag? Well geesh, 
it's no wonder!" 
I chuckled and went on 
with doing my chores
but before I closed
the laundry room door 
I found that old snot rag 
from down on the floor
and carefully smoothed 
it on top of the washer.
                                   

                                     Just in case.