The Pictures 40 lines

The Pictures

My mother passed away
I had to sell her house
Cleaning it out was going to be a chore
I'd better wear a shirt; not blouse

A roll top desk long forgotten
in a back room
had to be cleared out
what it held could be happy or gloom

Opening the drawers
and emptying them out
left me more work
I wanted to shout

I couldn't open
the locked top
Searching for its key
it was in a mop

More papers, bills, and other junk
and an undeveloped film roll
piqued my interest
wondering took its toll

I took it to be developed
at my old standby- Kmart
the mysterious pictures
would give me a start

Two days later
there was a knock at my door
the police came to arrest me
for nude pictures at the store

I told them I was oblivious
and the pictures weren't mine
I gave them the whole story
they didn't want to hear my whine

I was tried and convicted
and had to spend time in jail
I was in total shock
all I could do was wail

Sentenced to ten years
just because of a film roll
one last act from the grave
my mother took her final toll

40 lines