a friend of a friend
packed up nine years
of his life yesterday
he was unprepared
but had to do it all
in one afternoon

i was free
so i went over
straight from the airport
to put together moving boxes
separate cables
wrap plates and glasses
in layers of paper
and carry boxes and bags
of things to be saved

we got most of everything
out in eight hours
but it will take him
much longer
to unpack
the dusty containers and
memories and emotions that
he was forced to tape up
and send to storage