Poetry: Housekeeper

Housekeeper

People of all types

Come and go to my hotel

The same room will house

Many different lives

Some stay for less than eight hours

Others for days

Each time I reset the room

Removing the evidence of a life

I know them now when they walk in

Not by name or by hometown

I know them by their stains

The marks left behind, that I clean

For you I’ll find wine rings

Dried on the tables

Some spills on the sheets

Bottles in the garbage

For you I’ll find diapers

Filling both waste baskets

Spit-up on the bed cover

A travel crib I’ll have to take down

For you I’ll find almost nothing

You made your bed before leaving

Your shower was too quick to dirty

Changing the sheets I’ll find a sock

I clean the room

The same room

Over and over

I clean you away

Washing the tub

Scrubbing off the ring

Removing the hair

Wiping down the mirror

Dusting the room

Making the bed

Vacuuming it all away

You are gone

***

Published by Shannon Laws

Like my writing? Want to hear me read my poetry? Please visit https://chickadeeproductions.bandcamp.com/releases and download some today. Only $1.00 a poem! Shannon Laws is a Pacific Northwest poet. Her story-telling poetry has touched many hearts and minds. She is the author of four poetry books, the most recent “Fallen” published by Independent Writer’s Studio Press. Shannon has received two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Community Champion Award for promoting local artists on community radio and encouraging peace and understanding through community poetry events. She makes her home in Bellingham, Washington, USA. View more posts

One thought on “Poetry: Housekeeper”

Reblogged this on shannon p. laws | writer and commented:

Thank goodness for moments of encouragement at the right time. My poem ‘Housekeeper” was selected to be performed in 2011 “Phrasings: words & dance” event in Bellingham WA.. Phrasings is a poets and dancer collaboration organized by the Chuckanut Sandstone Writers and the Bellingham Repertory Dance Company. At the time these two groups shared the same space in Fairhaven, at the Firehouse Performing Arts Center. It is a natural marriage.

I can still remember the excitement of receiving the acceptance email, AND sitting at first rehearsal watching the ladies perform my poem to dance. It was almost as beautiful as watching my children come into the world! Seriously, it was glorious! I hugged and cried on each dancer, and told them I’d love them forever like a drunken friend.

Having all that happen to me when it did was a pivot point in my poetry. It was a pat-on-back I’d been waiting years for. It felt like redemption.

Artistic expression is fundamental to our well-being. It is essential as an outlet. I am thankful for the rich art culture here in Bellingham. John F. Kennedy said “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him (or her).”

Thanks for visiting,
SPL

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