EDIT Cleaning

[kolemath]

EDIT 1

Cleaning

In the attic
rat habitat
leavings of paper nests and insulation
dust kaleidoscope glittering the one light bulb cloud of tingling nose feathers and sneezing
shifting boxes of holy clothes, mangled papers, forgotten toys
until I find the bottom,
a faded flannel shirt that mommy wore
pregnant as the moon-shaped smell of sour milk in circles on the fabric.

I fold the flannel neatly into her drawer.

When I'm nothing
more than dirt in the air
and you find this precious faded fabric
moth eaten, rat nested and rotten
you'll throw it out, disgusted someone could keep
that?

But I'm still here reminding why,
whoever's there to bless your sneezing.




 FIRST DRAFT
Spring Cleaning
 
Springing into action
with the warming ground,
 
birds scouring the lawn for twigs,
bears at berry bushes,
 
I am in the closets and attic
throwing things out
the windows and doors.
 
Holy sweatshirts.  Mangled papers.  Neglected toys.
A cloud of dust and sneezing.
 
At the bottom of the piles,
a faded flannel shirt
my wife wore
pregnant as the moon
and breast feeding.
 
The smell of sour milk in the fabric.
 
I fold the shirt neatly into her drawer.
 
When I’m nothing more
than the dust you sneeze out
and you find this precious flannel fabric
moth eaten and rotten
 
you’ll throw it out, disgusted
someone could keep that?
 
But I’ll be there to remind you why,
whoever’s there to bless you.