My Box of Dreams

Before today, my dreams were placed in a box
It was strapped down with chains and discarded
Some years later, I went to my attic in my head to make sense of my life
There, I found an unfamiliar box.

The box looked like it had been abandoned for years
It was bouncing around; for whatever was inside was trying to escape.
I undid the lock and pulled apart the chains,
And reluctantly, I opened the box.

Whatever was inside burst out with a bang!
I fell backwards.
There was music, laughter, photographs of my long sought future
My box of dreams.

I soared through the air,
I climbed a mountain,
I got married,
I was an established photographer.

My box of dreams took me around the world
I saw Egypt, Australia, France, and New Zealand
I saw countries at peace
And I saw neighbors helping each other

My box showed me my own life
I saw my photography studio
I saw the birth of my children
I saw my grandchildren and I playing in a field
I saw myself and my husband on rocking chairs on our front porch, both of us old

I reflected after the new awakening of my dreams
I realized for too long I had let others dictate my dreams
I had let others tell me to soar too low and not reach for more
I had let people close to me shoot me down

Not anymore.
I am ready to take a leap of faith
And fulfill my dreams,
Every last one of them.