My sister enjoys cleaning. Me? Not so much. I love having a clean home, but I am not a cleaner by nature and my house is typically a bit of a mess. It usually stops short of squalor but can definitely descend into downright dirty. Other things simply take precedence, despite my best intentions. On rare occasions, when the world feels overwhelming, I do take comfort in the simple act of cleaning. Last night was one of those times.
Cleaning
There are those times
when the sweep of a dampened sponge
over countertop or across sink
chases away dirt, germs, debris and
the overwhelming sum of it all
putting a sweet shine on that spot
imposing an island of order
an eye in the chaotic storm
Gratifying
Satisfying
Superficial
Molly Hogan (c) 2016
Stop on by Violet Nesdoly’s blog to enjoy the Poetry Friday Roundup!
Nix the comfort zone 
Another delightful and publishable-for-a-larger-audience poem. At least that is my two cents sitting here in northern Georgia.
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Thanks, Dan! Hope you’re enjoying your time in Georgia and I’m looking forward to reading about your hiking adventures there!
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Exactly
>
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I love the last line- superficial
Great take on cleaning and I’ll keep this poem in mind as I clean this weekend
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Hope you find that cleaning zen, Cindy! Enjoy the weekend!
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I think of these tasks a bit like meditating, Molly. You’ve written the feeling well, that “putting a sweet shine” on whatever is needed. It’s a necessary poem!
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Thanks, Linda. I like the idea of cleaning as meditation–I’m going to ponder that some more!
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I feel exactly the same way. Most of the time cleaning is pretty much the last thing on my mind, but sometimes, when the world just feels beyond your control, there’s something so gratifying and soothing about being able to at least control the state of your own home, if only for a little while until the chaos takes over again. 🙂
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Exactly!
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I agree! Though sometimes my best thoughts come from cleaning in a trance.
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I suppose repetitive motion can free your mind to wander as it wills. I found that when I was running, I often had my best thoughts–perhaps for some of us the body needs to be engaged elsewhere to fully free the mind? Hmmm….
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Nice twist at the end. “Superficial” – Indeed – and one could add “Transitory.”
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Fleeting?
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I take great comfort in knowing I’m not the only one who avoids cleaning! My late aunt told me, in her later years, that she regretted her earlier obsession with always having a clean house. Do whatever you need to do to maintain your creative soul. A bit of cleaning that provides inspiration is a bonus!
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I have a dim memory of an old saying along the lines of “On your deathbed, you’ll never wish you’d spent more time cleaning.”
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Your poem captures the drudgery of cleaning perfectly. It’s my nemesis, too! I’d much rather be reading or writing. Audiobooks are my solution when housekeeping tasks call.
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I’ve recently turned to podcasts, especially ones about books and reading 🙂 The downside is that while my house is slightly more organized and cleaner, my Amazon list is growing exponentially!
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What a zinger of an ending!
I, too, like HAVING CLEANED, but I don’t love it so much in the moment. So many good books, so many unwatched movies, so many bike trails to explore…
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Getting that cleaning moment started is my downfall! I do find setting a timer for a short amount of time and adding a liberal application of upbeat music helps!
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I like that last almost defeated note — superficial. I just broke four Mr. Clean magic erasers into pieces now that I’ve discovered they work on my cabinets. There’s more to do. More erasers to buy. But it makes me feel less defeated to have made a dent in my hopeless, ancient cabinets that water never cleans. This is a poem that strikes all the right chords. Well done.
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