Happy Poetry Friday (and St. Patrick's Day ☘ too)!
Today, I'm wrapping up our TeachingAuthors series on the theme of Moving Forward in the New Year by sharing an original Etheree poem.
You may recall that Esther kicked off our topic back in January with her review of The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Kid's Books by Danielle Higley (Bushel & Peck Books). Of course, I loved reading all the posts in this series, but April's has especially stuck with me. She shared her One Little Word for the year: Simplify. The word is becoming my mantra as my husband and I try to declutter all the stuff we've accumulated over the last forty years. Given that we've lived in only one place in all that time, it's A LOT of stuff!
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| This photo by Sigmund on Unsplash looks a lot like a corner of our basement. |
The decluttering has been necessitated by the fact that we're seriously contemplating selling our house. Doing so would be a HUGE change, and we're both finding the idea a bit overwhelming. That feeling inspired me to take up this month's Poetry Sisters' challenge to write an Etheree on the theme of "transformation." I came up with the following. (Click on the image below to enlarge it.)
I still don't know what the future will hold, but writing this poem helped me feel a little less overwhelmed. So, a big THANK YOU to the Poetry Sisters! I look forward to reading all your Etherees at the end of the month.
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| Poetry Friday logo by Linda Mitchell |
Carmela
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19 comments:
This is lovely, Carmela! Inspiring! And I like the basement corner, too! It means someone -- some life -- passed through and stayed awhile. Bobbi
Change does demand attention! Good luck with the sale of your house if that's what you decide.
Hope you find calm waters in the days/weeks ahead, Carmela. Your poem reminds me to breathe, too.
:)
Carmela, yay for embracing change and transformation. I have done my share of decluttering over our 40-year marriage, but we've moved seven times during those years! I am not sure what it would feel like if I was doing the decluttering for a full 40 years. At least you haven't lost, misplaced, or forgotten special items. You'll get it done! I love your etheree. "Change / demands / attention" Yes, indeed, and it seems you are ready to give it.
"Keeping my hand light on the tiller..." I love that bit. So much potential and joy in that. Hope you have fun decluttering, and enjoy your new direction!
Believing in "unexpected wonders" is a good way to be, Carmela. I've been in my new place for nearly 11 years now, left the old one of 40 years like you may be. If you can, I moved before I sold my home & left things behind for an estate sale. It made it easier to take only what fit for my new one. Now, I admit that I still need to clean out more! Best wishes on your journey!
Thanks for the inspiration -- both in the poem and in your decluttering efforts. We haven't been in this house for 40 years, but that picture of a basement corner could be ours. And then there are the closets and garage...oof. We need to get some serious donating going on!
I love "my hand light on the tiller"--what a good motto for the way we hold onto things. I love getting rid of things and always feel lighter when I declutter and toss and donate. Hoping you'll find some of that unshackled feeling, too! <3
Thanks, Bobbi. I was too embarrassed at the clutter in our basement to take a picture of it.
Thanks, Susan. I appreciate the good luck wishes.
Hi Patricia. So glad the poem reminded you to breathe, too. :-)
Thanks for the encouragement, Denise!
I'm glad you like "Keeping my hand light on the tiller," Sarah. That isn't easy for me to do, though. :-)
Thanks for the advice, Linda B. It's helpful to hear from others who "have been there."
Mary Lee, I've been giving away SO MUCH stuff through our local "Buy Nothing Group." It's easier to part with these things when I know they're going to someone who will put them to good use.
Thanks, Laura, I AM feeling lighter. But I still have so far to go!
Carmela ~ I'm right there with you about keeping too much and the freedom when I can let something go. I just took two big things to the Goodwill TODAY (when you move stuff out of a room for carpet cleaners, it becomes more apparent what you don’t want to move back in).
I am trying to give at least one book away each day. Sometimes I forget.
I love your poem--about change demanding attention and keeping a light hand on the tiller. You say so much in such a beautifully spare form...wow.
April, hooray for getting rid of stuff!
And thanks for your feedback on my Etheree. I'm so glad you like it!
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