Anna Couani #5 all those remnants

all those remnants
things left over from teaching
a box full of precious
original sheets
some made

some copied
that outside of teaching
        in that particular place
        for that subject at that time
        are worthless

a bunch of lucky money envelopes
still with their 

5 cent pieces in them
in a plastic bag
wrong anyway
because I mistook
wedding envelopes
for new year ones
        being unable to read Chinese

the students laughed
in a kindly tolerant way
but we had Moon cakes
        at the Moon Festival event

I collect those tiny plastic spoons
        from Bar Italia

so useful so transparent
the way they bend 

        coloured light

then there’s the box of
5 cent pieces
my Dad’s old change box

and his amber mirrored cigarette box
        shattered but reglued

        glowing darkly on the mantelpiece