Sandra Heska King

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Poetry of Moving: On Cleaning Windows

June 11, 2016 By Sandra Heska King

windows

 

On Cleaning Windows

Today I sliced you in half and performed surgery within your joints.

With a screwdriver’s blade, I debrided the past

and cleaned you up with moist sponges and cotton swabs.

You’d swallowed pencils, paper clips, spiders, and flies.

And. oh. my. goodness.

Maggots, it seems, had already begun a work in you.

How long did we neglect your treatment? Months? Years?

Today I washed you down and put you back together again.

Now you have a new lease on life, and I am referring you to another’s care.

I, for one, have learned not to wait so long to scrape the cracks.

 

window well

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog, poetry, Poetry of Moving

Comments

  1. Jody Collins says

    June 11, 2016 at 3:02 pm

    Poetry is everywhere…. I am so thankful you’ve turned to writing a wee bit more in this transition season. Lucky for us!
    (Funny how that works; we wordsmiths can’t help ourselves; poetry is everywhere. But I already said that.)

    • Sandra Heska King says

      June 12, 2016 at 10:27 am

      It suddenly struck me that if I wait until we’re moved and settled, I’ll have lost too many moments. But maybe a short–if not corny–poem can help me hang on to them without spending hours writing a longer piece of prose? Did you know that poetry is everywhere?

  2. Marilyn Yocum says

    June 12, 2016 at 6:13 am

    …sliced…debrided…referred post-surgery…great word choices. SO you. I love it! Also, you have reminded and inspired me to tend to mine. Thank you for that.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      June 12, 2016 at 10:24 am

      D and I have made a pact. We will be “move ready” for any moment. We’ll see how that works out. 😉

  3. Mary Townsend says

    June 12, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Sandra…what a beautiful image you paint for a seemingly dreadful task (for those of us who haven’t really cleaned our windows in years). Hoping to take heed today to clean the windows of my soul… so His Light may shine in and out… God bless!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      June 12, 2016 at 10:25 am

      I’ve got some cleaning to do, too, Mary. Hope your Sunday is serene. 🙂

    • Linda Reaves says

      August 31, 2016 at 10:25 pm

      Loving this metaphor ! ! New to Sandra’s blog. Blessing to find poetry in motion that is so relatable….Linda in Alabama

      • Sandra Heska King says

        August 31, 2016 at 10:53 pm

        Hi Linda… how nice to see you here. Welcome, and thank you!

  4. Simply Darlene says

    June 18, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Your nursing influence is evident in lingo and order, miss SHK.

    I took to pen and paper during my family’s relocation saga too. That, and the THC community, were the constants during the upheavals. I hope you are doing okay.

    Blessings.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      August 31, 2016 at 10:52 pm

      Oh my goodness, Darlene. I remember reading this comment. How in the world did I miss responding? Still hanging in… and sending love. xo

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