Surrounded

the closet door
stands open
exposing
the remnants
of my daughter's life
shelves and boxes
embracing
the things she left behind
ballet shoes, a doll,
cards and letters,
ribbons,
purple leather coat,
notebooks,
a lingering scent of perfume
waiting for her return
and even for an afternoon
when she is in the house
her things become animated
thriving in her presence,
at night, when she is gone
I take my books to her room
her possessions settle quietly
their hues muted
by shadows
the walls seem to sigh
and I read
surrounded
by her