Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published
“Someday I may really need this,”
is how I filled this shack.
Now I must sort through the mess.
It’s time to clean out my old shed
first sweep away the dust
then sort the living from the dead.
The broken stuff that’s dangerous,
what used to be of use,
goes into the pile of refuse
but delicate capacities
I keep, to pick my way
through life’s tricky complexities.
Outdated habits are discarded
rusty routines released
and I become more wholehearted.
Three things about this exercise:
it yields my life’s reprise,
and ritual purge, plus surprise.
This blest sorting of new and old
helps me find sanity
as my third act unfolds.
“New and Old” is a companion to Wednesday’s poem “How To Sweep Your Own Grave.” Both sound the theme of what the Swedes call “death cleaning” (döstädning). As I do my third act declutter it’s a time to reminisce and let go of what no longer serves me. It’s a blessing to find the occasional surprise of something I forgot I had and really like.
Your engagement with these poems is a blessing to me. Thank you.
I’d love to hear from you. You can reply to this email or put a comment or heart on this post in Substack.
Feel free to give this poem to a friend.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.