Esthetic Clutter

Kitchen middens, memorabilia, artifacts--

Room to keep the house from bulging

Is the only thing it lacks;

Manikins from Mexico;

An old Confucious made of mud;

A hand grenade from World War II

That we hope remains a dud;

Photographs of movie stars,

Enough to make a constellation;

Pennants strewn across a map

That represents our far-flung nation;

Metal horses, plastic dogs, and

wooden cats;

Cannon, pistols, sawed-off shotguns,

Ammunition, holsters, gats;

Vases, lighters, ash trays, coasters;

Bric-a-brac from old Japan;

Ersatz relics of the sun gods,

Dating from when time began.

Tread lightly when you come

to see us;

Don't brush or break this

precious stuff.

And don't come bearing gifts,

Good neighbor--we've enough!

(First published in Along the Lane: Dedicated to the memory of Thomas William Larsen, who lost his life in World War II)