Antique Inkstone

In a Chinese antique shop
I am drawn
to a beautiful box
covered with embroidered brocade
closed by ivory tabs

I open the treasure
its hinges are red ribbon
stretched diagonally
to hold the lid open and vertical
over the white silk interior

red sealing wax
marks as antique
the enclosed
dull
green-black
ink stone

even the price is reverent.