Agnes Krampe Poet Free verse

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 August 1, 2018 at 7:27 PM Wonderful poem! I know what you mean, cleaned out some things of mine a couple months ago. :)

Line Gauthier July 28, 2018 at 11:43 PM Love your style, right from the heart. Beautiful poem, Agnes.

Gregory Richard Barden July 26, 2018 at 12:22 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 July 23, 2018 at 9:51 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 July 23, 2018 at 9:54 PM ...plus if I were to make room...it will only fill up with new junk...^WW^

Sylvia Coulstock July 22, 2018 at 5:26 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 July 25, 2018 at 9:56 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 July 22, 2018 at 1:42 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 July 25, 2018 at 9:54 PM Thanks, Viv. Yes, it does feel as if opportunities open when space frees up.

Connie Marcum Wong July 20, 2018 at 11:46 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 July 25, 2018 at 9:54 PM Thanks, Connie. Yes, it is very freeing.

Andrea Dietrich July 20, 2018 at 7:49 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 July 25, 2018 at 9:54 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 July 20, 2018 at 12:02 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 July 20, 2018 at 5:20 PM Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Emile. I really appreciate it.

Susan Gentry July 18, 2018 at 6:58 PM I find it feels good to do that once in awhile, like a freedom of sorts. I like how you phrase and express in your writings. Agnes Krampe July 20, 2018 at 5:21 PM Thank you, Susan.

Heidi Sands July 17, 2018 at 6:54 AM Well written. I can feel your experience :) Agnes Krampe July 20, 2018 at 5:21 PM Thanks, Heidi. I'm sure many of us have been there.

Arthur Vaso July 16, 2018 at 11:37 PM You have to fill your new space and mine! I am sad now!!! I loved this poem! Agnes Krampe July 20, 2018 at 5:21 PM Thank you, arthur. New space can be exciting.