Home » Poems » Carolyn Devonshire » A Secret Obsession

A Secret Obsession

What is it with this obsessive compulsion
Destroying every dust ball’s conception

In folks’ unkempt homes I feel no revulsion
Yet that offers me little consolation

For cleaning my own home is an addiction
Often resulting in great agitation

Exploding as an internal combustion
This behavior’s like a viral infection

My disorder leads to immaculation
I’ve dispelled all hopes of emancipation

For much to my own “clean freak” consternation
I still live in over-sanitization.



Entry for Shani Fassbender’s “Tell Me a Secret” contest
A “true obsession” probably handed down by my mother
who was lightheartedly referred to as the “White Glove.”
Mr. Clean was her role model.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Kash Poet

Date: 9/3/2011 10:08:00 AM

Congratulations Carolyn on your win in Shani's contest.Liked it first time around.

Caryl Ramsdale

Date: 9/3/2011 3:35:00 AM

A Sixth Place Win Congratulations. CR

Lee Ramage

Date: 9/1/2011 10:06:00 PM

Great poem, wish the cleaning gene rubbed off on me more, although my background was Infectious disease... guess i figure if you're going to get something you will... take care lee

Shani Fassbender

Date: 9/1/2011 9:40:00 PM

Great job Carolyn! Thanks for writing for my contest. I'm with Chris...wondering if this is true or not....we may never know... I seem not to have this OCD with cleaning; that gene skipped a generation in our family :)

Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 12/24/2018 5:01:00 PM

It's true. I'm obsessed with cleanliness, but only for my own home.

John Freeman

Date: 9/1/2011 9:32:00 PM

Cleanliness, next to Godliness syndrome, Maybe! Smile. Congrats. Carolyn on your worthy poem present. Agape, Moses

Jl Sadberry

Date: 9/1/2011 12:23:00 PM

Smile, *^_^* “My Own Mother Holds Such A Trait I Would Say & In Some Ways Tis Was Passed Unto My Own Self My Dear, Precious & Priceless, Blessed & Beautiful Carolyn! *^_^* Your Loveliness Made Myself Smile With This Wonderful Account Brushed Splendidly Its Painting Amid Any Given Day of Your Beauties Life Although, I Would Not Fret Over Such A Characteristic My Dear for It Only Speaks Something Pleasant In Your Lovely Nature!” === My Love Unto Your Immaculate Beauty, Always & Forever, Jasper *

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer

Date: 9/1/2011 9:54:00 AM

Well done Carolyn-like the others said-nice to see those words used. Also, you'd get along good w/ my husband :) Love, Natalie

Carol Sunshine Brown

Date: 9/1/2011 7:17:00 AM

Congratulations on your well deserved win in Shani's "Tell Me a Secret" contest Carolyn. Love,Carol

David Williams

Date: 9/1/2011 3:45:00 AM

hey Carolyn congrats on your great win, i did a poem for the Alhouette contest about cleaning, i have OCD when it comes to cleaning, i know what it's like... David

Jack Horne

Date: 8/31/2011 6:55:00 AM

LOL, I wish you could visit us, love. We're busily tidying our bedroom this week - I didn't realise we had so much junk

Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen

Date: 8/30/2011 6:34:00 PM

Good one! I wish you were here! LOL Come on over...without repulsion, we could sure use a little house cleaning help! lol (We are still fighting high fevers with Hunter.)

Gwendolen Song

Date: 8/30/2011 4:14:00 PM

Dearest Carolyn, Such a hygienic write for contest. Very clever words that are seldom used in any poems I've read lately! Here is my address for your cleaning pleasure: 1234 Dirty House Road, Dayton, Ohio 12345 I'll be waiting......... Gwendolen

Judy Ball

Date: 8/30/2011 10:57:00 AM

Hmmmmm I've been told that obsessive cleanliness is a sign of emotional upset. But as long as you don't go the way of Howard Hughes I think you're okay. It's important to be clean enough to be healthy and comfy and dirty enough to be relaxed. I think I'm borderline either way. Great write my friend. It made me smile. God Bless, JB

Kash Poet

Date: 8/30/2011 3:47:00 AM

Enjoyed this humorous write very much Carolyn...some technical words you have used here....Internal Combustion(Engine??).....best wishes.

Robert A. Dufresne

Date: 8/29/2011 9:27:00 AM

haha I can picture it all and " Miss White Glove" would be proud ! Mr clean was her role model...haha. Fred Sanford is mine.

Jun-Jun Villanueva

Date: 8/29/2011 5:43:00 AM

another great entry my dear friend~~~advanced CONGRATULATIONS for this masterpiece~~~really astonishing ~~~smile and cheer up~~~*-*jun-jun

Ravindra K Kapoor

Date: 8/28/2011 10:46:00 PM

What a wonderful secret you have painted in this beautiful write. The way you have chosen to expose your own secret is an example of beautiful write. My good wishes for your wonderful entry. I have placed a Blog on Anna and a new Poem dedicated to Dharma Guru Dalia Lama. Hope you would like them. Love and best wishes always..Ravindra.. Carolyn Devonshire

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 8/28/2011 9:53:00 PM

yes, as I read it, I was thinking this was a true secret. Well, at least you would not mind my house since you said you felt no revulsion in an unkempt house of others. Mine is not so bad, but it is a far cry from the way my mom's was. She was an obsessed clean freak and it turned me to be the opposite, carolyn!

Nancy Jones

Date: 8/28/2011 7:29:00 PM

hehe.. are you a virgo perchance? I have a friend who's a clean freak and I'm embarrassed to have him come to visit me at my more lived-in-look house.. I wonder if he shares that non-revulsion... Way to capture the condition, Carolyn! ~N

Matthew Anish

Date: 8/28/2011 7:22:00 PM

Good Luck in the contest. I wish I was more of a "Clean Freak" . Keep up the fine poetry! Peace & Love Matthew Anish

Francine Roberts

Date: 8/28/2011 5:54:00 PM

uh - oh, you should know when you visit I've come to look upon the dust bunnies as pets............. good luck in Shani's contest Carolyn, your secret is now out

Russell Sivey

Date: 8/28/2011 5:39:00 PM

I definitely understand this. I too have compulsions to clean. It's sometimes a deterrent to a healthy life. Just something I have to live with! Your poem said everything so perfectly Good luck in the contest!!