Spring Cleaning

Selecting A Reader, by Ted Kooser

First, I would have her be beautiful,
and walking carefully up on my poetry
at the loneliest moment of an afternoon,
her hair still damp at the neck
from washing it. She should be wearing
a raincoat, an old one, dirty
from not having money enough for the cleaners.
She will take out her glasses, and there
in the bookstore, she will thumb
over my poems, then put the book back
up on its shelf. She will say to herself,
"For that kind of money, I can get
my raincoat cleaned." And she will.


The above words put me in timely mind of priorities and separation of indulgence and necessity. With the holidays finally over Spouse and I are back to scanning documents and pondering over the items we might throw overboard our proverbial ship. The last month has been slightly frivolous, and relaxed in terms of serious time devoted to planning and eliminating excess possessions. We may be on the early side but it feels like time for a jolly, enthusiastic Spring cleaning of both house and mind.