memento.

Memento

The sword--
hangs,
by the table, over the mantle,
was given to him,
--surrendered--
not stolen, perhaps, as others.
The case is slick
with dusty oil
from years of dinner
based on a bacon substrate.
My mother bumped it, maybe
when she was cleaning out the apartment
while they were in the hospital.
--is sheathed--
--holds its edge.