grandma’s attic: Karen O’Leary

Karen O’Leary

snooping & sniffling—

years piled up in

grandma’s dusty haven

grandma giggles

as she hears them

through the heating duct

“wow!” one daughter 

shares an antique bowl

with her twin sister

grandma tip toes

over to the staircase

and flips the lock

“look at this!” the twin

holds up a 1920’s

fringed flapper dress

gran’ is doubled

over in full fledged

laughing mode

“what was that?”

she walks over to

check the door

“gotcha” gran’ lets

them out. “we thought

you were gone”

“surprise! what gives

you the right to go

through my things”

her daughters 

hang their heads. 

“sorry mom”

***

Karen O’Leary is a freelance writer from West Fargo, ND. She has published poetry, short stories, and articles in a variety of venues including, Hedgerow, Haikuniverse, Frogpond, Setu, Fine Lines, Shot Glass Journal and Quill & Parchment. Karen edited an international online journal called Whispers whispersinthewind333.blogspot.com/ for 5 ½ years. She enjoys sharing the gift of words.

---

Setu, October 2023