The Clutter Brothers

Homer and Langley saved things
in a Brown Stone pillar of litter
everything from paper to strings
rooms stuffed by odiferous clutter.

In a Brown Stone pillar of litter
magazines and newspapers stacked
rooms stuffed by odiferous clutter
floors sagged, the walls cracked.

Magazines and newspapers stacked
to the ceiling mountainous high
floors sagged, the walls cracked
useless old stuff piled to the sky.

To the ceiling mountainous high
from a ladder Homer added more
useless old stuff piled to the sky
towering eight feet off the floor.

From a ladder Homer added more
until paper stacks started to slide
towering eight feet off the floor.
Under tons of dailies Homer died.

Smothered by dailies since 1945
Homer and Langley saved things;
Langley’s brother didn’t survive
everything from paper to strings.

—John L. Campbell, Brookfield, WI

 

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