Melissa challenges dVerse poets to write to a quote from one of Leo Tostoy’s books…
ancient dust thickly lies…
obscures discarded objects
personal mysteries unsolved
hidden in dark attic of soul
what is this discovery?!
favorite forgotten pillow
stuffing needs fluffing…
still choke on puffed pride
look in that corner box
something small, hidden
away…yuck! dead mouse
of musty, moldy pettiness
keep cherished photographs
of loved ones’ kindness but
let dirty dogged memories
lie sleeping and undisturbed
_______
(alternative title: pride & pettiness, but that’s another author)
a poem in my pocket 
Sep 12, 2025 @ 16:44:36
I winced at the thought of the dead mouse, in spite of it, enjoyed, thoroughly, your poem! Cheers.
Sep 13, 2025 @ 19:06:01
Glad you liked it…cheers!
Sep 11, 2025 @ 13:45:02
Ouch… that dead mouse was a very unwelcome find
Sep 12, 2025 @ 09:06:48
Disgusting, really!
Sep 11, 2025 @ 03:54:12
let dirty dogged memories lie —great advise. Lovely write.
Sep 13, 2025 @ 19:08:48
thank you, Selma 🙂
Sep 10, 2025 @ 19:32:44
“dead mouse
of musty, moldy pettiness”
🐁
Sep 10, 2025 @ 21:21:14
Guilty…it stinks!