To De-Clutter is Divine

to de-clutter is divine
(like this stark clean Geneva font
size14, easy on the eyes, especially both of mine
in recovery from two different operations)

the ironing board is up
my steam iron ejects the last of its calcium deposits
thanks to cups of distilled water I pour
into the wee dragon’s throat all afternoon

stacks of clothing surround me
good clothes and ‘work’ clothes stained with paint
from boxes labelled his & hers winter & summer
then another stack, clothes to give away at long last

1990’s pants worn once to a funeral or a wedding
red T-shirts which never did suit us
nearly-new garments too tight or too bright
even for Sally Ann & Value Village connoisseurs like us

I stand and iron cotton and linen and mystery fabrics for hours
our village Donation Store deserves clean ironed clothes on hangers
for someone younger, taller, more willowy, let’s just say
but we’ve laughed a lot, modelling our old selves for each other