A New Year Thought...

"Green Winter, A Celebration of Old Age" - Elise Maclay

I'm giving away my things
And it turns out to be
As much of an occupation
And as much fun
As collecting them was.
I browse among my friends the way
I used to browse in shops.
I try to decide who should have the cameo
I wore as a bride, who would like
My Chinese vase. I go through closets and drawers
And am amazed at what I find.
So many objects. I am ashamed
To have so much when so many have so little.
Worse still, there are a lot of things I hardly ever use.
This handsome fish poacher, for example.
Hammered copper. It came from France.
I used it once or twice. We thought a meal had to be
Meat and potatoes. The kids know better.
My-daughter-in-law, Jill, eats only vegetables and fish.
She says it saves grain for the hungry and is a less aggressive way to live.
Bless her heart, she is a gentle child.
She'll love this poacher, and my silver napkin rings
(She won't use paper napkins—says she wants no tree
to die to wipe her mouth).
It takes forever - sorting things.
I stop to think about where and when
And I find myself thinking, I may have use for this again.
Nonsense. I don't bake angel food cakes anymore,
Give the pan away.
Funny, I thought I'd feel a sense of loss
With fewer of my things around.
I don't.
I feel exhilarated, free.
Is this why You told the rich man to sell his goods?
I think now your command
Was meant to help the rich man more.

Happy New Year from Kessler Simple Solutions!