“Come here” my friend called for me
pointing towards a box, covered with dirt
Dated 50 years ago, the box was
Still looked strong, not decomposed

We pulled the box out, it was heavy
“Does this contain rocks?” my friend asked me
“I hope not” I replied
The box was really heavy

We opened the box, it was unlocked
Inside were things that I couldn’t recognize
I never saw them in real life
Except for in pictures of history

There was an envelope inside
dated 50 years ago
it addressed to no one in particular
and from a Tommy boy

There was a picture, black and white
“Before going off to war” it read behind
“That is Tommy Boy” I told my friend
“Maybe 50 years ago, before the war”

A bullet, engraved with Tommy’s name
A medal of honor, awarded to him
Letters he wrote to a girl he liked
and a letter he wrote to us, the box openers

I opened the envelope and unfolded the paper
“Tommy boy to the future” it opened
“Tommy boy to the future” it started off the letter
My respect for this person went up immediately

“Time is the great undoer, children” it read
Even those who defeated Hitler can’t defeat it
“Time kills even the best of us”
“Make the best of this life”

“This box contains recordings of my life”
“Years and years spent in the war
to spend just days with the one I loved”
“May that not be your fate”

“Each day I spent in war, I thought of her
Her face, her words, her memories consumed me
Find someone like that in your life
To be entirely consumed with”

“Time is the great undoer, my children”
“I do not remember all the worries I had as a kid
I only remember the memories I made
and the fun I had making those”

“You get only one life
Live a life full of love, joy, and wonder
What’s the point in a life that’s not?
We get only one life to live, eh?”

My afternoon became packed now
Unpacking can wait, these stories needed attention
I shall give them what they seek
For I do not know the adventure I’m going to go on

–Surya T