Best Clear Out Poems
If only for a moment,
I could swoop you away.
I’d plan an entire night,
Easing the stress of the day.
Fresh cut roses in a vase,
And a candle lit dinner.
My mind races with thoughts,
And girl, you’re the winner.
Delve into this ecstasy,
For my love’s not a mirage.
After your lovely dinner,
I’d give you a massage.
Take the load off your feet,
And let my fingers flow.
Lets just sail away,
To wherever this may go.
I want to see you chill,
And clear out your head.
Relaxing with no worries,
As the best lies ahead.
With a cluster of grapes,
And a little red wine.
A hint of soft music,
For you to unwind.
Releasing your tension,
I like to see you smiling.
And the layers of fun,
Are just now compiling.
A late walk on the beach,
Unforgettable memories on sand.
I’d be your noble servant,
Every wish at your command.
If you need to get away,
Come spend an evening with me.
Our action’s would write a book,
Of the greatest love poetry.
How do I begin to describe you
Such an incredible person
Yet even now you doubt your abilities
You lost your own mum when you were eight - you never ever got over it
You worked all your life, started off by working in a bank for almost 20 years
Then when you had children you ran a village shop from home
But also helped run the smallholding where we lived
You even had an evening job to bring in extra income
Then you began working in a care home and that had a big impact on you
At 50 you changed direction in life and studied and trained to be a nurse
No mean fete with two children to bring up
When you retired you continued to work in a care home
Then you undertook charity work every week still continuing well into your eighties
In fact you were on your way to work at the charity shop when you fell
You were found lying in the street …
Two bleeds on your brain and over three months in hospital
How you pulled through I will never know
Yet you battled on and are still with us still
Now you have short-term memory issues and are going blind
Fate struck a cruel blow when dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer
He passed away in February
Your lifelong partner for nearly sixty years
Your world turned upside down and now you live in a care home
We are selling the family home - gosh I find it tough emotionally
I know we have lost dad but I feel like I am losing you too
You are helping me clear out things from the house
Items you have known and loved for many years
Sadly we can’t keep everything
It must be so so difficult for you, yet you never complain
I just want you to know how much I love you
How much you inspire me
We only have one mum and I am so lucky I have you still
Written for a previous contest but too late to be submitted
Placed in Judy Konos' Contest - tell us about your mom
18th September 2015
Blue-checkered curtains are faded and drawn,..
after the years since she made them from gunny-sack cloth
The Singer, long idle, now gathers more dust,
with its needle still threaded and the treadle at rest
As I clear out the room, I think of long hours
of foot-peddled power, and strength in her soul.
She would unroll the fabric of roses and flowers,
with determined resilience in dark circled eyes.
But prudence, endurance, would salvage a way
Abandoned and left in a sea of lost dreams
She picked up the pieces, of patterns and hems
Making a living, and raising her kin,
didn't come easy, but she had to win
A life left unraveled, she must sew up again.
Working past midnight. Spindles would spin. Somehow rekindled
to live once again.
Making ends meet. Selvedge edges and hems
Sowing her heart, sowing her skill, and sowing her soul
Sewn together again
______________________________________________________
4/20/18
Sitting alone with my thoughts and this drink at night
So many thoughts but I'm scared to pick up the pen and use this Ink to write
So much of my pain is bottled up, I know it's not good to keep it in
I've had so much to say but I've been scared of the pen
Even without talking about the pandemic the past year for me has been painful
They call it the devils juice, but this alcohol has been my angel
My Mum got ill and I've been her full time carer since
From growing up in foster care, to being here for her just shows my strength
But truth be told i've been in a bad place trying to deal with stress
Laughing for the benefit of my friends, but secretly trying to heal while depressed
So much bottled up inside that I need a clear out
So many issues I keep to myself because I know they're things people don't want to hear about
lately my mind has been elsewhere
Taking care of others but neglecting self care
7 years free from Self-harm, but not caring for myself was as dangerous as when I used to use the blade
Maybe I shouldn't be so honest, but I can't put on an act I'm not on a movie stage
So many questions I have, but I may never have the answers
Last november I got sexually assaulted on a night out, then 2 weeks later I lost a friend to cancer
I usually hide behind humour, but there's nothing funny about this
Since then, self made hidden armour and a fake smile have been my outfit
Most people are trying to make it out of the storm, but I know how to survive in it
I hardly ever cry, but maybe it would be healthier if I start crying out more
Giving up isn't an option, there isn't a fight I will be lying down for
Because if I'm still in the fight against my demons then I might win it
I've had so many days of pain and nights of worry
But I get back up when they least expect it like I'm Tyson Fury
I always find a way to survive so my demons and obstacle should be the ones scared
But recently I've been scared of the pen because of everything I've been through in the past year
Here's egg in your face,
friend
Go cry in your beer,
dear
Time to clear out of here,
quee---
Oops!
They used to come only at night,
And hide way up under the bed,
Tucking their feet clear out of sight,
Ready to angrily pinch my pinky toes red,
D A D D Y! I’d holler, and scream.
M O M M Y! I would cry and yell.
S I S S Y! I’d shriek in my dream,
Heartbeat knowing I was about to be killed,
My own child picked up on this gloom
The first time he stayed in grandma’s house.
M O M M Y ! D A D D Y! He yelled, in full scared bloom.
I ran in, heart beating fast, expecting to see a little gray mouse.
What is it, Son? I asked my train-covered pajama wearing little man.
It’s the monsters he whispered, his amber and brown eyes as big as my head.
I nodded. “They’ll get you too, if you fall and land.”
So you’d better lay down right now, and stay in that bed.
3/28/2018
David, you mean the very world to me and more
Can you forgive me?
You brighten my days when I am low and dead
And you listen—you always are there to listen
Bearing all things, you let me cry on your shoulder
You comforted me when I was scared to death
Of the demons…always watching…you were there
Watching over me, scaring them away from me
You save me by being alive and who you are, David
Without you, I would fall apart and shrivel into shame
Because there are few that listen—few that listen
You draw the poisons of my pain clear out
And you let them sink into your own skin
You swallowed my poison instead of spitting it out
I let you drown, David—forgive me…I let you drown
I’m selfish and rude, and I always ignore you
And for ever doing that, I hate myself
Seeing you in your last moments…woke me up
I’ve been a selfish bastard and I hate me
For never giving you enough love
David you are everything to us all and more
Do you hear me?
You are so uplifting to all of those around you
You are selfless—so incredibly selfless
And in the silence you lifted me high with praise
Because I knew you would always be the one to give it
Never was there a day that you didn’t believe in me
Even when in darkness have I buried you in all matters of sin
Your light blinds the demonic rust...your light always shining
Never leaving me in the dust but never expecting the same back
And I never saved you! From all the loneliness
I never thought of you! I was so selfish
I will never let you go again—I will fight for your glory
You are amazing in every way
Far braver and brighter than I have ever dreamed to be
I let you down this time, David…I cried for your life
But now I ask for your forgiveness
Seeing you being taken away…crushed me to the marrow
I’ve never hated myself more than tonight
But I will never, ever say goodbye
*for my little brother, David William Breidenthal - I would love for you guys to read some of his poetry. He is a brilliant kid. And he’s been having some tough times. Thanks. *
Quietly I sit,
eyes trying to clear out the cobwebs of sleep.
Coffee, strong and dark in hand
I step silent through the yard
traversing the well worn paths I've laid,
my little dog at my side.
Footsteps fall, soft and unsteady
as I walk the perimeter of life
that is newly born and just a start to the season
and he, sniffs the air scented by the blossoms.
Red, pink, white roses slip from bud to flowers
basking in the early morning sun in sweet bouquets
warmed and watered by the humid air
following torrential rains and the chill it brought.
Pausing in strategicly placed chairs
I take it in, breathing deep the fragrance on the wind,
contemplating the years so quickly lost to time,
and the wonders I recall within their fading shadows.
How fleeting were the days, the weeks and years
now culminating here in complete satisfaction
knowing nothing can be undone
it is what it is, no redos.
Onto my lap, my dog jumps up
seeking attention from my distracted ponderances
a repetitious stroke upon his head is enough
and I am at peace with the time that is
waiting on the edge of forever.
Confidence walks ahead of me
Sixteen steps or more, people feel her coming.
They clear out of our way. She laughs.
Clearing my path. My eyes are bright with happiness.
rounded shoulders
a broken man
the life drained
clear out of him
his heart
chewed
and spit out
injured
crushed
nothing
but a shell
barely
a ghost
of the man
i knew
AP: 2nd place 2020, Honorable Mention 2020
Posted on March 5, 2019
If he makes you feel so sad-
Leave him.
If he makes you feel so bad-
Leave him…
If he breaks your heart in two
Or makes you feel so blue,
If you know that he’s untrue…
Leave him.
If he puts you down at all-
Leave him
If he drives you up the wall-
Leave him.
If he clearly doesn’t love you
Or think that he’s above you,
You know what you must do-
Leave him.
If he doesn’t know respect-
Leave him.
If he makes you feel a wreck-
Leave him.
I feel I am correct to forward and direct-
If he gives you ill effect…
Leave him !
Clear out all that which brings you down,
Be happy, don't cry, don’t you frown
For love should not hurt;
If he treats you like dirt-
Don’t you dare revert…
Leave him.
Follow down the garden path
That leads to inner peace.
Plant the seeds of gratitude.
Indulge your best caprice.
Simplify each ritual.
Improve the whole routine.
Stay flexible and balanced.
Fold the laundry once it’s clean.
Clear out all the clutter.
Dust the cobwebs. Brush the cat.
Forgive the unforgiven.
Hand it over; pass the hat.
Appreciate the glories
That reside beneath the sun.
And silence all the thunder guns,
Yes, each and every one.
Granpa, when you was a kid
Did you thinks a running away from home
And look un see what's over that hill
Roundup wild horses
An bucks um out jist for a thrill?
How did you comes to get clear out here
I hear Pennsylvanie ain't to near
Was you a kid or was you old
When you packed up your bag un left home?
Was you in the war like Uncle Zeke and Granpa Don
Has you been up to the mountains like Davey done
How bouts the Injins did you knows any a them
An how bouts the buffalo how many did you kill?
Tell me granpa was granma way out here
Or did you has to goes someplace else to gets her
What about my daddy was he anything like me
Or did he jist wants to see what he could see?
I know's I's jist a girl, granpa
But I don't wants to does womans things
I wants to be a cowboy and does what they does
Help me, help me granpa, I come to you because
You're the smartest, wisest, kindest man I know
I love you, granpa
The age-old dream is a nightmare,
that has haunted us far too long,
still it lures in so many souls
with the sweetness of its song.
But beyond the simple melody
a darkness quickly appears,
those who preach of utopia
are the ones we should most fear.
It all starts out pleasant enough,
they want to build the perfect world,
with peace, love, and prosperity,
for every single boy and girl.
But on what defines perfection,
the can never truly agree,
tell them it’s abstract idea,
and they scream out ‘heresy!’
Not that this will stop the push,
they’re convinced that they’re right,
and any who would oppose them,
are an evil and a blight.
First it’s campaigns to convince
that they hold the greatest truth,
then to the schools for targeting
the dumb, impressionable youth.
They think that this will do the job,
but too many reject and dismiss,
then comes all the social pressure,
go along or you’re not ‘with it.’
And when even that doesn’t prevail,
they always turn to government,
use law to force you to agree,
or face a long imprisonment.
This becomes the tipping point,
since government is always force,
yet convinced they’ll bring perfection,
they’ll do what was once abhorred.
Some penalties put you in camps,
doomed to a miserable fate,
no longer do you just ‘disagree,’
you’re now enemy of the state.
It does not take much to see this,
such an endless, brutal trend,
Hitler’s ‘perfect’ Aryan Reich
sent ten million to their end.
And all those workers ‘paradises,’
their purges and class enemies,
Sent a hundred million folk to death,
to build their ‘ideal’ societies.
Even down on the smaller scale,
the same result you will find,
Jamestown, Heaven’s Gate, and Waco;
where people were burned alive.
How many would still be with us,
how many fewer would be dead,
if we could take utopia
and drive it clear out of our heads?
In fact the very word itself,
if you look back on history,
literally translates as ‘no place,’
in the original Greek.
As in no place can ever exist
where mankind lives perfect,
Better is the best we can do
without leaving people wrecked.
Best we keep shouting this truth out
before we all tumble and fall,
We must fear, fear utopia,
or else it will kill us all.
LINES
We LINE up in traffic, or clear out the door,
And there are BEELINES we make, to the seashore.
Get mad and we're "DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND,"
He USES A LINE when he asks for her hand.
You're in A LINE OF WORK, it's where you can shine:
LINEBACKERS, LINE EDITORS, and TECHIES ONLINE.
You're in the CHORUS of a big Broadway play,
Or dancing in LINES with the CORPS DE BALLET.
I'll "DROP YOU A LINE," when you're on vacation,
Get there by CRUISE LINE to your destination.
Fly on an AIRLINE, but you cannot fly straight,
In crossing a BORDERLINE, COASTLINE, or State.
In HEADLINES, OUTLINES, or given the GUIDELINES,
We calculate "READING BETWEEN ALL THOSE LINES."
DEADLINES and TIMELINES we must try to meet,
In interviews for FRONTLINE of the man on the street.
She is dressed to the nines, with the highest HEMLINE,
And her jeans are drying on a breezy CLOTHESLINE.
The kids throw their sneakers to the TELEPHONE LINES,
They're outside and swimming, their TAN LINES are signs.
CUT IN THE LINE, CROSS A LINE, this may give you trouble,
Especially the LINES that are yellow and double.
You don't want to FLATLINE, when you become very ill,
But you will, when you see LINES from your itemized bill.
There are the Maths that are used for LINES X, Y, and Z,
And a BASELINE to measure what we're trying to see.
We may draw PARALLEL LINES with our ruler in place,
These LINES actually meet when they curve out in space.
Then there's games with LIFELINES, we try not to burn,
There's LINES FROM A SCRIPT that we try hard to learn.
LINES READ in poetry, played in music, sung in song,
It's the memorized beauty of the gifts passed along.
Whatever THE LINE IS, that we find most adoring,
It's NOT keeping the order we find so abhorring.
We humans are LINEAR in most of our thinking,
It's the CIRCLES and CURVES that'll drive us to drinking.
By Edlynn Nau
© February 9, 2016