Image: C.F.A. Voysey
Storage
When I moved from one house to another
there were many things I had no room for.
What does one do? I rented a storage
space. And filled it. Years passed.
Occasionally I went there and looked in,
but nothing happened, not a single
twinge of the heart.
As I grew older the things I cared
about grew fewer, but were more
important. So one day I undid the lock
and called the trash man. He took
everything.
I felt like the little donkey when
his burden is finally lifted. Things!
Burn them, burn them! Make a beautiful
fire! More room in your heart for love,
for the trees! For the birds who own
nothing– the reason they can fly.
One of my favorite of Mary Oliver’s poems. Thanks for reminding me of it.
This is beautiful. I know about the growing older thing and I’m also becoming aware of the letting go thing.
This little sentiment resonates with my heart
Just spent much of the week decluttering 5 generations (literally) from the house. Appreciate you posting this poem. Captured the spirit of the work.
Wonderful reading for a Saturday, which ended with me letting go of things. Kitchen things, to be precise. Not the trash man, but someone who claimed them on a freecycle style online platform.
Not five generations but 15 years of married life, which I hope to continue though in a slightly less cluttered home.