I am standing in the middle.
On my right is my wife.
My hand is on her waist.
On my left is my daughter.
My hand is on her shoulder.
I am holding a pencil in my hand.
I am gesturing toward the camera with it.
In my other hand is a blank sheet of paper.
I am holding the deed to my house in my hand.
I am holding a photograph of my mother in my hand.
I am holding a photograph of my father in my other hand.
I am holding my diploma from the state university.
It is framed.
I am holding it in both hands.
I am holding the key to my car.
I am holding the key to the safety deposit box in the bank.
I am holding the key to the door of my office.
I am holding the key to the box at the post office.
I hold one in each hand.
I am holding an hourglass in one hand.
The sand is running out.
My hands are folded across my chest.
I could be laughing, but there is no way to know.
The lower half of my face is covered by my hand.
Nominated for the National Book Award, the Eric Hoffer Book Award, and nominated three times for the Pulitzer Prize, J.R. Solonche is the author of over 40 books of poetry and co-author of another. He lives in the Hudson Valley.