Take These

Take these things of me

they are doing me no good

All this holding on,

all this paper,

all these gadgets,

all this history,

these letters,

these books,

all these mementos,

everything that holds me

holding on to it all,

leaves less of me

to grasp what is

right here

in front

to the sides

in back of me,

what is

above and

below

me.

Maybe, what is

beyond me.

Take these

scribblings,

these wishes,

this yearning,

that gripe,

this desire,

the love

and respect,

obsession

and neglect,

the raging fire,

that pyre…

whoosh.

All the unease and disease

insecurity and sorrow

triumph and decay…

up in smoke.

All of it,

take all of it,

if you would,

please.

There,

now I am done,

now I am quit of it,

now I am free…

Beyond me.

But,

wait,

a second,

wait…

who was that

again?