THE BOX SONNETS

Each student exchanged a sealed box containing five items. Two sonnets were written. One speculating on what could be in the box and a second written after the contents were revealed. I asked that when they opened the box that they pretend the items in the box were the last missive from the person who sent the box.

The Sonnet exercise was unusual. Each student prepared a small box with five items that were precious to them, labeled it with their name and taped it shut. The boxes were exchanged with another students. Two sonnets were required. One was written speculating on what could be in the box and the second based on the items they found upon opening the box. I asked them to imagine that these items were left to them by their partner and were the only reminders thy had of them.

Brandon Buonacorsi

Sonnet before Opening the Box

What lies within this six sided contraption?

The question begs itself rhetorical

The answer is known to be expression

For its creator chose things that are metaphorical.

The box transformed into an icon

Containing the very things that show

What lies in the very corners of her fond

Memories of existence and life’s glow.

Whether the treasure be figurative or literal

The meaning behind the five items remains the same

The meaning is love and love quintessential

Love of memories and hobbies and people and fame.

The opening of such a box deserves much respect

Because the box is a person not a meaningless neglect.

Sonnet after the box was opened

With the white box now open

And its meaningful contents visible glory

I can take a look at each token

And see Lily’s inner soul story.

The azure ribbon of remembrance

Of a loved one once walking upon earth

And the card of a boy, whose bond had sustenance

Both show people who to her, have quality worth.

The sounds of song, make her heart just dance

As well as a jingling trinket from across the ocean.

A locked lock, for a diary perchance?

Which helps to control her mind’s commotion.

The box revealed to be a trove of representation

Of loves, desires, secrets, motivations.

The taunting treasures were finally seen

Filled with symbolism and obviousness

A picture with the a scene so serene

And floss to intensify her happiness

A miniature remote in which she controls

A pair of tube socks with music notes

And chapter 14 in a fan-like fold

Ones wonderful treasures, for her they denote.

As for me, I’m so lucky to be able to see

What was inside the brown rectangular box

I’m hoping she’ll say the same for me

So many meanings, in such a small box.

It was a pleasure being able to see

The near & dear treasures of Sabrina Berci

Alyssa Villa

The Box

(before Opening)

Oh lustrous black block

What secrets do you hide

As you sit there and mock

Inviting me to look inside

The temptation is there

Calling my name

As I sit and stare

Almost losing this game

Might there be pearls

Perhaps a lover’s note

Even a doll’s soft curls

A child’s toy boat

Yes, at last it is time

I may open it after the final rhyme

(after opening)

Now I See

I slipped off the rubber bands

And gently took out

What had been placed by another’s hands

And saw what she cared most about

An elephant similar in hue

But soft in feel

Compared to the polish of Caribbean Blue

And quite unlike the journal of teal

These were companions to an Eiffel Tower

Perhaps a fond reminder of a trip

Underneath a dream catcher humming with power

Her life now depicted as a short film clip

The mystery is now finished and done

My what a tale my mind had spun

Dani Ponce

(before opening the box)

The box sits on my desk so innocent

Yet somehow it manages to mock me

Was it once stored inside someone’s basement?

I wonder what that rolling sound could be

The owner taped the box with utmost care

The transparent tape is no help at all

Could something inside possibly be rare?

Wait! That thing that’s rolling could be a ball!

So big a box for things that seem so light

Are dreams and hopes hidden in these four sides?

The prospect of discovery excites

What mysterious things in this box hide?

For now I will have to wait and ponder

Until I find out what could be yonder

Discovery

The smiling faces and celebration

From these photos I can so clearly see

A family that’s full of elation

Friendships and family a major key

A two-winged creature that beholds a cross

A man’s stern face with unmatched facial hair

To lose this foreign item a sad loss

Romanian heritage a cool flair

The rolling item that had me guessing

A pink unassuming tube of Chap Stick

A small hand held bible full of blessings

Implies an unyielding set of ethics

A girl with principles and loyalty

Her inner self shows to me much beauty

Sabrina Berci

The Green Box

(before opening the box)

You, Green Box, who lays there, sits there, and stares

Do you know that you taunt me? Do you care?

Your color, it whispers, "I know your need"

I never thought a box would come for me

You see, I forgot to pay a good friend

For some money she said she never lends

But with her mouth made an exception

And now I am stuck, wond'ring this question

Does your outside foreshadow gifts within?

Oh, I know your master packaged some in

For though she is not, dressed in haughty things

I know in your box, she hid some bling bling

So great Green Box I know I must give back

Would you be so kind, to lend what I lack?

Barbara

A green box filled with small, simple pleasures

Stories behind them of greater measure

A writing utensil, listening device

A quarter, a pin, a shield for the eyes

Barbara the DJ, the agent, the spy?

Barbara the student that's in a disguise?

These do not seem to fit her very well

We can only guess what she means to tell

Broken headphones, a sign of drowning out

The world all around her, that creates doubt

Her love for writing, we can't understand

Yet she'll keep on rhyming, pencil in hand

And when she's through, she'll pull out her token

Buy a gum ball, and leave words unspoken

Allie Gurvitz

The Box

before opening the box

The big, white box is full of mystery,

The wonders and the possibilities.

Her secrets kept in here from history,

Her life is in here with no boundaries.

As the contents bounce from bottom to top,

Each object rolls around and clings as one.

They move together like leaves that will drop,

A pen, a box, or even a button.

What could possibly lie within this box?

Five simple objects important to her.

The amount of guesses goes on for blocks,

Items that comfort and provide nurture.

I can’t wait to discover this secret,

I will then see the things that are private.

The Box part 2

The big, white box no longer a mystery,

No more wonders and possibilities.

Her secrets now shared from history,

Her life is exposed with no boundaries.

The little baby doll, which she loved to share

Stayed with her throughout her childhood.

She had a big smile and long, thick hair,

This baby doll made everything good.

Then there was the pencil and postcard,

Objects that were significant to her.

A mini soccer ball, for playing in her yard,

And earrings to represent her girly side better.

I can’t believe I discovered her secrets,

I was able to see what lies in her pockets.

Barbara Bonaparte

With the shake of this box I hear a clank

With another I hear paper rattle

Don’t shake it too hard I know it will break

Figuring this out with be a battle

All the items in the box must be small

At some points you can’t distinguish the sounds

If I shake it hard it sounds like rainfall

There’s not much in the box. It weighs 1 pound.

I just heard a clunk, there must be metal

Reminds me of my pencil box, back when

Whatever is in this box just wont settle

I will take one more shake and guess again.

This box is so small much but it holds so much

Someone’s dear treasures that you dare not touch.

Sonnet #2

After Box was opened

Soaking wet denim and a heavy heart

Dinner reservations; 2 forks, 1 mouth

You’re already finished while I’m at start

I’ll be leaving soon; I’ll be headed south.

Loves a two way street; I see no headlights

Somewhere along the way you crashed and burned

Strictly platonic, no passion at night.

I can’t comprehend, I refuse to learn.

I came here for you, my love was that strong

Unconscious love, but I feel all the pain

I saw past your issues, and all of your wrongs

So far away but my love will remain

It will take time to my wings to adjust

At this point flying solo is a must.

Danielle Brown

Of Greater Value

My eyes curiously probe the box,

searching for undetected clues

But, the box sits mysteriously, staring and mocks

So I stubbornly decided to muse

Perhaps inside lie precious pearls.

An ancient Indian treasure could be hidden within.

Or the crown of a princess who once danced and whirled.

It could be a pirates most prized possession, a bottle of gin.

More likely this box holds something more prized

Like a dried rose in memory of a past lover

Or a mask from prom that someone used as a guise.

All I know for sure is that it’s something I can’t uncover.

Strange, that something can be meaningless to one person,

but to another without this something their life would be worsened.

Giselle Rodriguez

This Box

How can I guess what’s inside of this small thing

A rectangular box that’s colored green

This box could carry something amazing

Could be something my eyes have never seen

What great responsibility I hold

To care for something special of hers

She said it was fragile, maybe it’s old

This box, it holds infinite wonders

It holds an object, sliding back and forth

Almost begging for me to open it

What might be in this box, with so much worth?

If I don’t find out I might throw a fit

This impatience is driving me crazy

But I’m just going to have to wait and see

The box #2

The box, once filled with so much mystery,

So unpredictable and demanding

It’s now useless and unnecessary

Just a container, now filled with nothing

Five different items once found inside

So unrelated and a little strange

I see a photo and wonder what it hides

Because on it I see a small change

It is a picture of a family

On it, a smudge, perhaps caused by a tear

From memories of when she was happy

Maybe because now they are not near

If this is the reason, I can relate

To see them once again, I cannot wait.

Jessica Patru

The Mystery Box

This square box is a mystery to me.

I guess its secrecy by its masked looks

What could that soft rattling and clinking be?

Is it a book,maybe several books?

A world of possibilities impart

I hear the clinking of a paperclip and

Keys that unlock the treasure of her heart

Coins clatter, dance, and show her worth firsthand

Paper and something plastic mixed it seems

A life’s promise is in this precious box

It tells her story; all her hopes and dreams

Time in this box not fading like a clock’s

This box holds her most treasured belongings

It contains her past and future dwellings.

After the box was opened

What That Box Held

Your box was filled with five things dear to you

Each item constitutes something special

Your love of literature is virtue

To you a good book is so essential

They say a picture is worth a thousand words

If so, your pictures tell a whole story

A story of life and friendships in thirds

A story of adventure and glory

You are all smiles with your prized family

For you know not to waste a life’s moment

You and your friends—A commonality

Your sense of wellbeing is not dormant

You prize safety and health with a band-aid

And a CD shows your music crusade.

Elizabeth Harrison

This Little Green Box

What ever could be in this little green box

It is so innocent and so very small

Covered all over in colorful dots

There really could be anything at all

Mementos and reminders of her past

Gifts, pictures, symbolic tidbits or awards

I can't wait to open it at long last

What part of her life do these things lean towards

You can't trap your self into just five things

But what you choose to share shows who you are

That's what determines what each of us brings

Which is what we are yet to learn this far

I just can't wait to see what she chose

Right now whats in that box, only she knows

after the box was opened.

Her Choices

I can now glimpse what makes you who you are.

I can guess at the world that you come from.

No need to wish upon a falling star.

I have everything I need and then some.

A picture to remind you of your love.

To acknowledge accomplishments, a tassel.

Sports sunblock to show what you're capable of.

To show your fairness, a referees whistle.

A special necklace given as a gift.

Priceless treasure only in your own eye.

And a simple pin so easy to lift.

Showing so well your Aggie pride.

The things you chose show who you really are.

They tell us all that you will go so far.

Juby Geli

Tupperware Box

Little box of mystery I now hold

No bigger than the small height of my head

Light as air is the mass of this leasehold

Yet heavy is the secret, stays unsaid

The clear plastic reveals no truthfulness

As the inscrutable objects show squat

But bunched paper that prove the sky cloudless

During a day when the weather is hot

Still I wonder what lies inside this case

Surely objects of her joy and rapture

Which might lead her mind to a blissful place

Items she was blessed enough to capture

Such an enigma is this small package

Uncertain am I of its rare message

The Open Box

The box so light is now revealed, open

The private items can no longer hide

The interest of the secret not rotten

A view of joy or sorrow, it decides

A hair-tie is laid on thin crumpled sheets

A pencil is trapped in the confined space

A small empty packet of tea completes

The bubblegum sweetness caught in the case

The pencil and bubblegum fit her well

As I remember her clear thoughtful smiles

But the tie and tea packet makes me dwell

That I can’t work out her other profiles

Still I am glad I was trusted enough

To carry around her valuable stuff

Nicole Schrager

The Box

This sturdy box shipped from far away lands

reveals its past through dates, stamps, and stickers.

Let the ease of its passing from old hands

reveal its heart through more than mere flickers.

A sinister burden waits, crouched inside,

or beacons of hope, of lovely desire.

Or might it contain a subtler side

Axioms bared per a memory’s choir?

My tragedy will never be well known-

mysterious anguish, plaguing my mind.

It’s flutters of clues shadow me alone.

Respite from it I dread I’ll never find.

Aside, trapped in it’s immovable form-

the true essence of its holder, forlorn.

the true essence of its holder, forlorn.

Lily Viek

Box full of Mysteries

All taped up so no one can peek inside

Mystery box, what trophies do you keep

What symbols of life are you forced to hide

What dark secrets have you buried so deep

All these special items concealed so well

In a box of cardboard with tape so green

What stories could your items have to tell

What exciting adventures have you seen

Notice the different noises you make

As the items you hold move round and round

Louder and louder as your contents shake

Listening closely to label the sound

Oh cardboard box that I wish to explore

I wish your appearance would tell me more.

Items of Love

Cardboard box with many stories to tell

Cardboard box I’m so eager to explore

You concealed your contents so very well

Items with stories that need tell me more

A book of time for silent reading

Pictures of friends to cherish forever

These friends of yours that your heart is needing

So much fun and forgetting them never

The sound of music to relax your mind

And an accessory to hold so dear

Secrets to uncover; stories to find

While the significance remains unclear

Oh items of love what have you to hide

What stories do you have hiding inside?

Marielissa Alvarez

Hidden

I have Allie’s box

And I am left to wonder what’s inside

When I look at it all I see is a green box

But the contents inside seem to hide

These five items represent something

If I only knew what they were,

Then I could unscramble what is so adoring

So unique, so beautiful, and there to adore

These hidden objects

Are disguised by their sound…

This makes this one of my hardest projects,

Although the sound is so profound

It is true that this box is small

But I cannot wait until these treasures are reveled to all

Hidden part II

I have Allie’s box

I wanted to be surprised

And I have finally opened the box

I was surprised, amused, intrigued,

A sorority pin lays way inside

May indicate her sisterhood

A pink highlighter stood on the side

May in tell she likes to highlight because she’s good

There was a blue pen on the corner

Could it be she likes to write from north to south?

And there was an orbit gum cartridge, to show me something ‘bout her

So I believe she likes a clean mouth

A crunch bar mini size is all that is left

Leaving me out of breath

Nicole Schrager

A rich and closed book

You’ve showed me five objects tied to your past-

an innocent and random mix it seems.

I hope they will tell your story at last

but to decipher it I need the means.

How I wish your life was an open book

so this riddle could be clear and easy.

I’d know all about you with just a look.

Uncertainty makes me really queasy.

Silver cross, souvenir shell, penny, gum,

plus the heavy Pride and Prejudice tale.

Your closed book must equal more than its sum

yet its so unclear its written in braille.

Perhaps these things are worthy of your past

but its richness might leave this stuff outclassed.

Alan Talavera

Box Sonnet

A simple worn figure

Six sided, brown

For a stranger, dear

So I will guard it- safe and near

Full of hopes, dreams, beautiful things unseen

As if a box could contain one's being

Forged by workers of capitol machines

Setting their own dreams down, so freeing

And perhaps I am wrong on all accounts

And a box is a box is a box is

A box always and forever amounts

To the product of its sides

The possibilities are unlimited 10x11

If the owner can't explain, I'm leavin’.

Box Sonnet, After Opening

A star for the heights she aspires to

For even the heavens move to will

And with determination to hew

A life of hope she will instill

Pearls, for the honesty and innocence

With which she honors every act

To be true of personality as appearance

this is the taste of her tact

A photo among from friends soon apart

Seeking their own fortune and fame

Nevertheless kept close in her heart

Never will she forget a name

Finally, a bulb-shaped stress reliever

Because the sestina is giving her a nervous fever

Allison Chew

The Box Opened

What’s inside this box for now is clear

Treasures galore and stories untold

To lose this box, oh do not fear

For their purpose is clear forever to hold

A tennis ball tells of favorite past times

While a battery shows what’s to come

Each of these describe in rhyme

Something about a person and where they come from

The pencil shows his passion for poetry

And the penny has traveled the world

Putting trust in me to take care of these objects is pretty gutsy

But the meaning holds true and unfurled

Treasures kept so dear

Kept hidden inside a box so do not fear

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