Cheryl's Clutter

There’s a ruptured watch somewhere

In that drawer. I remember wearing it

When Eric and I went to Calaveras

The glass is scratched and cracked

‘Cause I was never careful where I swirled

My arms, but it worked well when he and I

Wandered through the redwoods. I don’t know

Why it stopped at eight o’clock

But I never took it to be fixed.

Here’s the program from a game that Glenn

And I once saw. I remember our team lost

But the cover’s gone where I wrote the final score,

It’s smudged, see? That’s his fingerprint.

There’s a faint stain on page nine

Below an ad for champagne, but it’s not a

Champagne stain.

I shouldn’t cling to any of this clutter.

It isn’t doing anyone any good; me the least.

It just takes up space and my place

Is small enough as it is.

Even this coat. I never even wear it anymore.

See the catsup clot on the sleeve?

I had it on that February when it was almost new.

I should have dry cleaned it then.

Now I guess it is too late for that.

I should toss it out, except that Dave

Gave it to me for Christmas.

January 17, 1988