The word goes out,

the piles appear,

Lost and Found.

It is the end of the season

at a skating rink,

a ski lodge,

the swimming pool,

schools.

Some places keep

perpetual collections.

Looking at the

leavings,

it is amazing

how many

towels,

hats,

gloves,

books,

scarves-

things that you would expect

people,

often children,

would miss

have not been

claimed before.

Archeological

history

could be imagined

if the items

were found many years

later.

My favorites

are the individual

items I see

on my neighborhood walks.

Especially in winter

or now as the season is

tempting us

with warmer weather

to come.

A glove,

a hat,

always

just one.

Some stay

where lost.

Does anyone notice?

Some

do

and put onto a step, a branch

where the items may be more visible.

Yesterday,

I walked part way

to the place I was going

after being

given a ride halfway

to my destination.

Three hours later,

putting on my coat,

I felt for my gloves

expecting to also find

my favorite foldable hat.

Only gloves.

Oh well.

As I started walking home,

I came to the corner

where I had gotten out of the car.

Maybe the hat

fell as I was getting out of the car.

Eureka!

There

just at that corner

someone had

placed my hat

on a bush just at eye level

for my discovery.

It was a cold day,

I welcomed the warmth

of my lost and now found hat.