The Gift

She opens the box
lifts up the tissue
she thought he'd forgotten
until now it had been
just an ordinary day
and though she's enjoyed it
she's been growing a tiny
cloud of disappointment

Until now
white box red bow
saving grace

She holds up the dress
one thing remembered
another forgotten
he's bought her
the wrong size
again

she chooses to laugh
lets the small storm
blow over

she knows too well
how easy it is
to walk away
from contentment

as if something better
existed a short ways
down the road


---
From today's Utne contest. The words were:
bought size laugh ordinary walk contentment easy
enjoyed over exist

I've got to write a few more poems today and tomorrow to make the 31 mark!