Baggage

By Steve

The suitcase was stranded

Lying on the side of the road

Forlorn and abandoned

But still closed

I noticed it back in 1974

inadvertently left

Because of a tire change

Or something else pulled from the trunk

For fifty years I have thought of this

A potential treasure unclaimed

Or more probably someone’s dirty underwear

But a mystery to me nonetheless

Why can’t I let this go?

I still struggle in my mind, I still recall it

Something inconsequential to my life

Why can’t I drop my end of the rope?

Matters much larger than this loom in my life

I also play tug of war with them

A past unfortunate word

Some inaction or action

which would have benefited me or not

Regrets where regret should not exist anymore

Thoughts and memories that crowd out better ones

The tug of war continues to no good end

I need to drop my end of the rope