Ink and Paper History

Black and white photographs Ink and paper history Of faces and places unknown to me Images faded, edges tattered and worn Stored in the small wooden box where dolls once lived Retrieved from the closet when relatives come Together they laugh and remember The car, the house, the dog, the war The friends who have since passed on Promising that some day They will note the names and the places - But each time the box is retrieved The memories fade Like the names and the faces Of the friends who are now gone.