Pythian Games

A Clean Sweep

Posted in A Poem a Day, KerryWordsmith by kvwordsmith on May 7th, 2008

Trembling at my threshold,

I dare to discover what lies behind the door,

The tightly-shut, but unlocked door.

Opening it, I see

My psyche in shambles.

I sigh and say,

“Where do I begin?”

 

The floor is littered with

The dust of illusions,

Shattered shards of time,

Remnants of lost dreams,

Tufts of hair pulled out in battles,

The wood stained with tears and blood.

“I must clean up this mess, but how?”

 

I search shy corners

For a soul-sweeping broom,

Finding only a small whisk broom.

I use it to form a tiny dust pile,

Creating a bit of order out of chaos,

Already perspiring, though my work has just begun.

 

Soon I feel weak, worn, and weary,

Unable to fathom how I will dump

All the dirt I have gathered so far.

“I don’t need all the answers at once!”

I remind myself.

My job, for now, for today,

Is merely to sweep,

Evenly, carefully,

One short stroke at a time.

One small square at a time.

 

Eventually I make a clean sweep,

The floor looks great!

I smile, straighten my sore back,

Put my hand on my hip proudly, and boast,

“Look at what I accomplished!”

I step and glide and perform on my polished floor,

Then sit, and rest, a sip some tea, satisfied at last.

 

Until, naturally,

More dust and dirt appear.

I get my broom and begin again,

Sweeping, sweeping,

An ancient ritual against

An eternal enemy.

 

By Kerry Vincent

© 1993

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5 Responses to 'A Clean Sweep'

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  1. Lori said, on May 7th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    This is so great that you have committed to writing a poem a day (or 2 or 3!). I haven’t quite made it to that point yet, but I am committed to trying to create or write something every day (or every other day!). Good job.

  2. woodnymph said, on May 8th, 2008 at 1:38 pm

    Your muse is so fruitfull, Kerry. Reminds me of my neighbor’s orance tree when last month, it’s branches were bending over with the weight of that sweet, juice fruit. Your poems are that fruit. Your message deep and thoughtful. Good work.

    Vi

  3. jodhiay said, on May 9th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    There’s always dust to sweep up: both literal and figurative. This is right on, Kerry.

  4. cronelogical said, on May 10th, 2008 at 5:35 am

    So right, Kerry, when in doubt get busy! You say it so well. Fran

  5. Heather Blakey said, on May 12th, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    For a long time I could not have opened the door to see what was inside so you can imagine the abandoned mess I found when I finally went within.

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