A Box For Good Will Poem by Cj Heck

A Box For Good Will

Rating: 4.8


As a friend, I had come to help
yet one more time
and I watched as she set
the cardboard box on the floor.
It was labeled for Goodwill,
penned in large block letters.

From deep in the closet,
she brought out an old blue suit.
It had faded over the years,
but I saw in her eyes
the memories still had not.

Softly, she smoothed the sleeves
that dangled flat and empty.
Then she stroked the slack trousers
on the smooth wooden hanger.
Gently, she brushed
the dust from the collar and lapel,
and then I heard her sigh.
Her resolve had melted away.

Again we talked and remembered.
We spoke of long ago,
how the sleeves encircled her
in warm secure hugs,

and the trousers had covered
lean muscular legs,
legs slightly bowed,
legs that loved to dance,

and what she missed the most
-the heart that beat below
the lapel of the old blue suit,
the heart that beat with love for her.

For over thirty years,
the suit had stood sentinel,
loyally guarding both her
and those memories,
and I watched as she carefully
replaced the suit and closed
the closet door.

Through quiet tears
she asked once more
how all of that could ever fit
in a box for Goodwill.

Monday, June 21, 2004
Topic(s) of this poem: love and loss
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Lare Austin 21 June 2004

Hi C.J. Your piece, A Box for Good Will, brought a tear to my eyes. My father recently passed away. Your writing (I have read your other pieces as well) is very touching. I hope you will publish a book...soon. Lare Austin

0 0 Reply
Sue J Ashdown 20 February 2005

Hello CJ, This poem brought a lump to my throat, tears to my eyes, but also a smile to my face. Sue.

0 0 Reply
Max Reif 18 October 2005

That's very touching. I didn't put 'Good Will' together as the 'agency' when I read the title. Wonder whether you knew I wouldn't...

0 0 Reply
Byron Headrick 20 November 2005

Very powerful...It truly captures the moment and teaches the lesson.

0 0 Reply
Donna Nimmo 25 November 2005

A very sweet poem and I felt what you wrote. A very good poem. Donna

0 0 Reply
Muhammad Imtiyaz 16 July 2015

remembering her lover with whom she was deeply in love...preserved the suit still as a mark of remembrance.Nicely written lines with deep feelings of love.

0 0 Reply
Chinedu Dike 19 April 2015

Beautiful narrative love poem, well articulated and nicely penned with insight. A lovely piece indeed. Thanks for sharing. Please read my poem MANDELA - THE IMMORTAL ICON.

1 0 Reply
Susan Lacovara 28 December 2013

I have my father's black fedora, a treasured reminder of how he was always such a dapper man, in the eyes of his daughter....I wear it from time to time, sometimes at the funerals of his friends...just to honor the old school way of times long gone...your poem reminded me of that....funny what stirs the senses, thought to be stilled. PEACE

1 0 Reply
Patricia Grantham 25 September 2013

Such a tenderly written poem of love and memories. Clothes do remind us sometimes of a love that was lost. We take them out the closet and put them back sometimes. Hard to part with memories. You did. An inspiring write!

0 0 Reply
Martin Swords 05 August 2009

C. J. ...... It's good to talk. It's good to remember. And it's good to write it down. Thank you for a moving memory. Martin

0 0 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Cj Heck

Cj Heck

Born in Columbus OH - living in Florida
Close
Error Success