Isabelle Cooper - In Leaving Clutter

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/