Spring Cleaning

by emily.chen

So this is how it ends:

straighten the bedsheets,

sweep up the floor--

they were never here.

 

Wash everything until it reeks

of detergent,

then rinse it once again

for good measure.

 

Bleach away the memories--

once,

    twice,

         three times

until all that's left is     blankness.

 

Air out your lungs

before you choke on the dust--

heartbreak is never heroic

(don't forget to breathe)

 

So take in the pain with a grain of salt

and come summer,

the Sun

will smile at you

through the open windows.


95th Weekly Poetry Contest
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Comments

Allers's picture
I really like the diction because it allows me to paint a very vivid picture in my mind. Everything written is really deliberate; the many spaces before the word "blankness" and the way that "once, twice, three times" are all on separate lines for emphasis. The general theme of how there is a need to clean not only the room, but the memories and the heartbreak is present within the first four paragraphs. I took the "(don't forget to breathe)" as saying how overwhelming the whole process is. Then, the last paragraph takes on a more optimistic view; the pain is only temporary and soon you'll feel the light again. The poem is relate-able, but at the same time, it's personal to you and we get a good glimpse of how you feel. Amazingly written and well thought out.

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