they kept the dress
in a locked trunk
in the attic
gathering dust for decades
forgotten when they passed
away—one following the other
as is often the case—
and years slid by
till one bright day
new residents held a yard sale
and having no use
for the cracked old trunk
set it out
on the lawn
marked $5

Selected byNolcha Fox
Image credit:Ryan Stone

author bio: Jan Harper

 

Enjoyment of the written word is a gift I've been granted all my life; to have others enjoy what I write is another, more surprising one.

 

When a poet's words are read, minds connect at an infinitely intimate level.

 

My writing has appeared in various print publications, from single pieces to arrangements of 10, plus in numerous spots across the web over the past 20 years.

 

I'm an ex-Brit living in America with my husband, mother-in-law, dog, cats and chickens, plus coyotes, rabbits, deer, possums and other wild critters; when I'm not writing poetry, I can be found with my hands in the dirt, planting and growing a kaleidoscope of produce, or making jams and good meals from the harvest. Painting, knitting, needlecraft and more all express my love of creating.

 

(photo taken with my phone of a little spot near Southend, England, where I once sat and ate burger and chips as I contemplated being a mermaid)