The Box Under My Bed Poem by Sallie Howson

The Box Under My Bed

Rating: 4.5


I have a wooden box
Under my bed.
It’s hand crafted and carved
And inlaid with gold
And full to the brim
With the insults
You brought me
Over the years.

I take them out occasionally
And try them on for size.
They don’t fit of course,
They never did.
Either hanging loose
Over my deceptively slight frame.
Or ridiculously small,
Laughable in their tightness.

Most are cheap, mass produced,
Run of the mill rags,
The sort you see in any
Bad relationship.
Others are Haute couture:
Conceived, designed, constructed,
Exclusively for me
But still not right:

Sometimes,
Inexplicably,
I convince myself
They are a perfect fit.
Only time spent gazing
Into the mirror of honesty
Brings me back to the truth,
It is merely in your distorted vision
That the scorn and ridicule suit me.

One day soon
I will burn my box
And it’s precious contents.
Not today, not tomorrow
And probably not next week
But soon.
Soon
I will toss it all
Into the fiery Gehenna
Along with
My memories
Of you.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Francesca Johnson 29 April 2007

Sallie, this is exceptionally good. When I saw the title I thought your box was going to be full of family gifts and mementos. Instead I found a poem with refreshing originality - your box containing clothes which were never the right size, bought for you by someone who didn't care enough to get it right. An interesting read. Love, Fran xx

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First Amongst Fools 29 April 2007

Thanks for writing this. It is inspirational in many ways. Nice to think that there might be something to do with those old memories that I have kept too close and only started to realise weren't really made for me. Good one tmj

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Susan Ash 01 May 2007

Really like this one. Wish I'd written it! - (and I know just who I'd send it to) . It made me smile - a lovely way to deal with all those unfair things people/someone has said in the past. This fits me very well - just my size! SA

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Ben Gieske 27 September 2007

Ironic to say, This is a pleasant read, mostly, because it provides the opportunity of looking inside someone else. In some or many ways we are not that different. A lot of contrasts which makes it more interesting.

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Paul Buttigieg 09 November 2007

Fabulous awarness of your inbuilt frustration is it not. Love the poem.........I think this is an exceptional piece of writing. A secret love song perhaps Thanks

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Susan Williams 13 September 2020

Toss it now! ! ! ! It does not have any place in your present or your future- it didn't have an honest place in your past.

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Sid John Gardner. 22 June 2009

Sallie, Why do I find this very very very sad. Sid xx

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Ashraful Musaddeq 19 September 2008

A wonderful composition, lovely.10+

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Chitra - 19 July 2008

brilliant piece with a fine creative acument

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Theresa Moore 19 April 2008

I can relate to this poem. Although, I have found that burning objects that remind... doesn't necessarily erase the memories in your mind. Well written and insightful.

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