Joanna Gilman Hyde

35 years ago

Bill N. Lacy* gave Me a box —

a little wooden box, black and green —

telling Me It was for My Dreams.

“It’s to keep Your Dreams in”

He said as He opened It —

When I was married to The Father

of My Children

I gave It away

as the only Birthday Present I had

to a beautiful dark haired girl

named Leah, Whose Mother

just bought a lottery ticket

on My Donated Paintings

and gave Me a hug.

*President of Cooper Union when I graduated in 1983