The benign benefactor
saw her
convinced her
challenged her

Come live with me
and get the gifts
A huge hamper package
new city, home, friends
money, food
Can’t promise love though
and in return
you must give up
all that is yours

Dumbly
she took the offer
to begin her life
anew

Years down
the package lies limp
half-open, half-closed
in her empty hands

Some gifts good and bad
she devoured dubiously
Most fell down fractured

One exquisite gift
in the mystery box
she adores
holds on to, too tightly

This bundle of joy
was not even bargained for
but is there for her
truly

© 2014 Alka Girdhar

~~~~

My poem in response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Mystery Box.”  that says:
‘You wake up one morning to find a beautifully wrapped package next to your bed. Attached to it is a note: “Open me, if you dare.”  What’s inside the mystery box? Do you open it?‘

My friend had the above experience, and I wrote my poem when she was sitting next to me.