I love how you’ve taken something as simple, even utilitarian, as a box and turned it into a quiet, melancholic reflection — how often we only reach for what we need when we need it, and forget it in the pauses between.
For me, it feels like a soft echo of relationships — the way we’re sometimes called upon to hold, to steady, to patch the corners with a bit of tape — and then folded away again, waiting to be visible.
There’s something in that quiet waiting that feels so human — that longing to be noticed, not just when the time is right, but because we were always there.
Makes me wonder, if there were one thing you could leave in the box to keep it company — an object, an emotion, a memory — what would it be?
Oh wow thank you so much Mark, and thank you for sharing your thoughts and interpretation of my words. You posed a very interesting question at the end and my first thought was a photo of a memory, but then as I thought more I wondered if it was more fitting to leave a book in the box.
My thoughts went to the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern which is one of my favourite novels because it lived between both magic and melancholy. I think it would help the box see the in-between in a different light and keep it company in the quiet 😊
Huhui,
I love how you’ve taken something as simple, even utilitarian, as a box and turned it into a quiet, melancholic reflection — how often we only reach for what we need when we need it, and forget it in the pauses between.
For me, it feels like a soft echo of relationships — the way we’re sometimes called upon to hold, to steady, to patch the corners with a bit of tape — and then folded away again, waiting to be visible.
There’s something in that quiet waiting that feels so human — that longing to be noticed, not just when the time is right, but because we were always there.
Makes me wonder, if there were one thing you could leave in the box to keep it company — an object, an emotion, a memory — what would it be?
A beautiful piece of writing.
Oh wow thank you so much Mark, and thank you for sharing your thoughts and interpretation of my words. You posed a very interesting question at the end and my first thought was a photo of a memory, but then as I thought more I wondered if it was more fitting to leave a book in the box.
My thoughts went to the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern which is one of my favourite novels because it lived between both magic and melancholy. I think it would help the box see the in-between in a different light and keep it company in the quiet 😊
🩷
Such a wonderful idea HuiHui.
Something for the box to have as company, where they can tell each other stories.
Almost a concept in itself "The Book and the Box" :)
Ooo yes!! I am going to add that to my poetey ideas notebook for the future 😊!
Beautiful. I love how you gave the box a soul. ❤️
Thank you Nerra - even inanimate objects have stories to share 🩷
Big appreciation for the humble box - and also for this lovely poem
Thank you so much for appreciating the box 🩷
Powerful! 🤍
Thank you 🩷