once upon a time ago

once upon a time ago

maybe they were heirlooms
once upon a time ago
half buried now
china fragments
broken chains
a rusted skeleton key
old lace from a doll's dress
custard white,
it strikes out under
the mustard coloured
dry straw bramble.
his tiny peach hands
 distorted blur under
lemon white
the glow of animate
life.
his, the digits of newness
still, over worthless relics
broken ever storyless.
he carefully cleans and collects
them from around the yard,
gives them some meaning
as the metal of his eye sparks
in reflection of all those jagged
misshapes he carefully stows
away tucking them into his wooden box.
he wants you to know, the meaning
he’s found


treasure.

he whispers:
'I have treasure'.