judge book by (dust) cover

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)