Oh I would not have you clear me, so quickly
so quietly away
And into the trash bin throw
without even thinking or guessing
or seeking to know
What these trophies were
Or what woe betokened their collection
Not just rewards of negligence
Maybe something else - some vigilance
Against an eternal foe?
Some badges here of abnegation or defiance
Spread - some solace here for sorrows
Some striving to be strong
Against temptation
Or despair
Some victories of the spirit alien to you but evident there
Not everything at once given away or thrown
away- away - away
But to be mused over - dumb questions asked that never can
Be answered now - except by the heart that asks them here today
That asks WHY this, why HERE, its special place
Why all this JUNK
Arranged so carefully and piled
So needlessly to fill
What vacancy - where did the heart err
that unexpectedly you find it there
Apparent and not obscure at all
to examine and perhaps compare
reflect, laugh, cry or swear
In chaos displayed with majestic care
stuff stacked and piled here and there and everywhere
With some fierce pride;
all that was found possible and not denied
now arranged carefully side by side
all affirmed against greatest of odds
through disapproving eyes
and disdaining nods
To you I would not leave
all that my life has been these many-many years
All clean, all neat and all so anonymous
with no fascination nor astonishment, to conceive
So lovingly now I leave
What I thought and was
A puzzle for some grey day
Tomorrow's for a remembering
you say
You're right today's the day
To sweep me all away!
Isabelle Cooper
Isabelle Cooper
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-leaving-clutter/
