… one sector of the self can step in for another in trouble
—Kay Ryan, “Why We Must Struggle”
Because the heart is a mess
I mop the floors. And shake
the rugs. And find homes
for all the knick knacks
and papers that clutter
the shelves. And when
the heart is still a mess,
I scour sinks. Then wipe
the mirrors. Hours go by.
The drawers are straightened.
Sheets and towels refolded.
Even the piano keys
are not sticky any more.
The filter in the fish tank
is scrubbed and changed.
But what does the heart care
for cleanliness? It walks
across the polished room
in its muddiest shoes
leaving gravel on the floors.
Shoves all the pillows off the couch
to make a cozier spot
for fussing, then spreads its troubles
across the counters
where they more easily
can be seen. Organizing the lot
is beyond me, but
I notice how,
between those muddled troubles,
the counters gleam.