Angela Garcia

THE OLD WOMAN in her chair
looked carefully at the keys
poking deep into her memory

To open up her memory
each key was a key-image

“I used to know what each key opened
but now I don’t remember”
she muttered as if I were only
in her head

I trembled at the thought that they could be used
to open a hidden palace

“Nor do you remember the locks,
the drawers, the doors
or even recall where they were”
I said voicelessly

Everything returns to the shadows
but you have the keys

There are no more secrets
for everything returns to the mystery

But you have the keys
although you don’t remember now