Things I Find When I Clean Poem by Tom J. Mariani

Halloween has marked the day
-rest of The Holidays are on the way
Clear some room it's been requested
For out-of-towners to be nested

They only stay over night
Then as soon as it's bright
We'll be off to The City by The Bay
Favorite spot of mine I'll say

Things I find when I clean
Things for years I haven't seen
Stacks of books to move
I can get rid of some I'll prove

I throw thoughts onto what I can find
Written on scraps the contents of my mind
Then folded between pages
Of books I havn't seen in ages

Things that came out of my head
Written while sitting on a rented bed
In The City late at night
Under a single light

On guest letterhead envelopes my notes
Of things that matterd important quotes
Also maps and an old resturant ad
Reminds me of being very glad

As do the books I have to clear
Going to a book sale I fear
No room for anything new
Unless I'm brave enough to recycle a few

It's like-
Parting with friends
Even ones heavy with dust
-back to my notes

Folded maps stolen menus
A parking ticket paid I hope
Even a room key/card
A borrowed bookmark I forget to return

All now in a small pile
After the old books are cleaned
Of stuff that that would only confuse
New owners that will have to
Cope with my margin notes
My guides of where to look
For related stuff my reactions

-But I disgress-

My book shelves were sagging
No room for the books on the floor
Soon overnight guests will be coming
Thanksgiving and shopping trips
From friends and family up North
Looking for a place to stay
Overnight

When the traffic is light
We're forty-five minutes
To the Golden Gate Bridge
Waive at walkers stretch our necks
Gawk at all the sailboats
Sliding across The Bay
They're day-tripping too

Our car has it's own crew
Each ready to unfurl
Catch whatever wind is up
It's hard to hold our vessel
On the Waldo Grade approach
They're so anxious to join the fleet
Anxious to throw anchor at shops diners
In their favorite spot

Staying on course takes all I got
I've also thought of being 746 feet up
Above the water in a tower of the bridge
I can feel the pull on my keel
Wanting to join the boats
Out on the water looking up
That's also where I want to be

On my way out to sea
Wind pulling or pushing
I don't care
Along for the ride
I would like that view too
Instead of looking down at them
To be able to look up at the Bridge-

Taking time to find reasons
To make new notes
Find new books to refill
I'll be seeing things
To write about-

Tourists at the railing
Looking down at all the boats
From the deck of The Bridge
While it carries their weight
Supportiong too our rolling vessel
Letting us cruise on
Imagining
While on our way
To The City