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Making Room

I am making room in my house. I give away what I no longer need: high heeled shoes that hurt my toes, pants that are a little bit too tight, the scarf I bought in San Francisco in 1995, a digital camera, just right for a child, homeschool textbooks, National Geographic magazines, a desktop computer, the toaster I haven’t used in years, the bed we bought for our first apartment. I am making room in my life and let go of what no longer serves: guilt, sentimentality, responsibilities I have outgrown. I waive goodbye to my children, hiding the sadness, and know tomorrow I will fill the new space. July 16, 2018

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Nancy Beckman

Date: 8/1/2018 7:27:00 PM

Wonderful poem! I know what you mean, cleaned out some things of mine a couple months ago. :)

Line Gauthier

Date: 7/28/2018 11:43:00 PM

Love your style, right from the heart. Beautiful poem, Agnes.

Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 7/26/2018 12:22:00 AM

Wonderful write, Agnes, and I love the ambiguity here between literal and metaphor. I am "cleaning out" as well, and it is SO hard for me, because every little nik nak and piece of junk has a sentimental value, lol. I enjoyed this very much! :-) <3

Winged Warrior

Date: 7/23/2018 9:51:00 PM

Not me Agnes...I even hold on to dust lol...but I guess at some point...well...hey!, can I have the old desktop computer lol...enjoyed my friend...love & light...^WW^

Winged Warrior
Date: 7/23/2018 9:54:00 PM

...plus if I were to make room...it will only fill up with new junk...^WW^

Sylvia Coulstock

Date: 7/22/2018 5:26:00 PM

I can relate to this.We moved from a 3 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom flat.Having been married 50 years in 2015 you can understand the amount of things we accumulated,not necessarily what we had bought but gifts from others.Minimalising is difficult,takes a lot of discipline and courage.Enjoyed your write although it added to my own guilt(I kept a lot of things,couldn’t bear to part with them) Have sent you Soup mail Agnes. June x

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/25/2018 9:56:00 PM

wow, that's some major downsizing! Gifts from others are especially difficult to get rid of, but I find it helpful to remind myself that the gift does not represent the relationship. And you can always take a picture of the item and only keep that.

Viv Wigley

Date: 7/22/2018 1:42:00 AM

Love this, Agnes. I recently had a good declutter- slightly sad, but purges the soul and opens fresh opportunities.I like the bittersweet finish to this, too. Viv x

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/25/2018 9:54:00 PM

Thanks, Viv. Yes, it does feel as if opportunities open when space frees up.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 7/20/2018 11:46:00 PM

We all need to let go of items that are cluttering our lives. I am in the process of doing that too Agnes. Your poem hit home! It is freeing to the soul. Great poem! : )

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/25/2018 9:54:00 PM

Thanks, Connie. Yes, it is very freeing.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/20/2018 7:49:00 PM

oh wow, you are a better woman than I. I keep trying to do this, but always I hold back and can't part with it all at once. Maybe one day I can let it ALL go. Love this.

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/25/2018 9:54:00 PM

I recommend the book The life changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo. Her method is wonderful. You take everything out, handle each item, and ask yourself whether it sparks joy - and keep only those. Worked wonders for my closet and gave me a different outlook on stuff

Emile Pinet

Date: 7/20/2018 12:02:00 PM

The author encourages exploration of ones life.....only true freedom left to you is your willingness to experience the here and now while time waits for no one...This poem calls to the reader to move along and explore life letting them know that it isn't wrong to want to taste life...afresh! Emile.

Agnes Krampe
Date: 7/20/2018 5:20:00 PM

Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Emile. I really appreciate it.