chased you
out of every corner
took broom and mop
and a chunk of change
to make things new, every
thing a thing that you had never seen,
a thing
you had never touched.

finding little pieces
splinters
isn’t so often now
but each one
is dug out
carefully.

because they still
sting.

you left a slugtrail
over every
surface
it took bleach and
work, so much
work.

but finally
finally
i
might
be
clean.