There is no dark, cob-webbed attic
or mysterious looking trunk stashed,
that hold my little treasures
collected through many years of my life.

A top shelf in a favorite closet,
filled with unusual papered,
colorful and suede textured boxes
of all sizes, are my treasure's resting place.

If a trinket, photo or nick-knack
can't be located in one of these boxes,
the only other safe place to search
would be in a top dresser drawer.

That's where a forgotten cassette tape
was re-discovered, in time for daughter's
21st birthday, the exact time
that was the goal of the gift, to give.

It was a recording of her noises
made during the first year of life.
Some words and excitement from us parents
but more so, of our daughter's awakening in life.

This recording was hard to give up.
Even in the times of digital cameras
and amazing cell phones that record,
this cassette will always be my heart's treasure.