A Daughter's Memories Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

Faded pictures
fragments of time
an old stapler
now repainted

an ancient wallet
carried by my father
through war
through peace
through youth
through old age

consistency
perseverance
order
respect
these words
come to mind

he taught us to pray
short prayers
simple
he brought home
a fresh fir tree
on Christmas Eve

I look at his worn wallet
his death certificate
his family pictures
in hazy sepia images

one thing about
memories
they are alive
even though
all those people
are dead

all those mementos
useless
unless
you happen to be
his daughter