“The Ring” by Delmy Padilla* - 2nd Place

The Ring 2nd Place - Poetry

A ring lays buried within clothes, and boxes No longer seen And people begin to ask where it has gone if not on her finger And she dimly smiles Forcing a reply “It was beginning to hurt” She stands by the empty kitchen sink Washing away the honey filled wishes From her fragile and bare fingers Looking out the shattered window She can notice the dead garden It used to have his favorite orange tulips And her favorite red roses Birds no longer come She wonders what must be done Must she direct a funeral and lay the ring in a casket Must it be left buried within the clothes and boxes they once used Must she light a candle and let the shine be seen Reminding her of the gleaming promises Gone to fade Reminding her honey nor moon ever came