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