The Woman Sweeping Her Step

by konpreah   Dec 20, 2014


Every morning she sweeps the dust
That settles there on the step at her door
And evening too again she must
Sweeping away the dust from her door
The dust of the trucks, the dust of our boots
The dust of the tanks that rumble and roar
Kicking up clouds in the street all day
So rising early taking her broom
She sweeps it away
Then once again in the evening too
Before she lies down on the bed in her room
The dust of convoys, dust of war
The dust of the dead forevermore
Kicking up clouds in the street outside
To settle there on the step at her door
She sweeps and sweeps but it all comes back
With the rumbling tanks and the grinding gears
Grinding the dead to dust with their treads
As the convoys and trucks and the tracks go by
Kicking up dust in the street outside
And it creeps inside, falls on her bread
Working its way inside her head
She locks the door and goes to bed
But it settles there too as she blows out the light
Working its way through her dreams at night
The dust from the street that hangs in a cloud
She dreams of sweeping it all away
Sweeping the dust of our boots away
Sweeping us out of her house everyday
The dust of the war, the choking dust
The thick gray dust of the dead at her door
And it hangs in a cloud in the street outside
As she sweeps and sweeps it all away
Sweeping it out of her life everyday
But it all comes back

(2006)

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Latest Comments

  • 8 years ago

    by Maple Tree

    Judging Comment:

    Bill wrote a wonderful gem of a poem this week!

    I can visualize a woman walking with a style and grace about her, but as I read on the message is much deeper.

    The journey of the day begins with the same routine and rhythmic chaos, turning a possible ordinary day into a thought provoking whirlwind of emotions. A well written and unique poem that leaves the reader in awe! Very nice!!

  • 9 years ago

    by Baby Rainbow

    I wasn't sure when I started to read this that I liked the repetition, but towards the end I started to enjoy it and look for the repeated lines.

    I also think it fits in well with the message that it keeps coming back, and I like how you made the sweeping dust different each time you mentioned it.

    I think this poem makes you feel connected to a character, so you can imagine her, feel empathy for her and understanding. It reminded me very much fo the lady in the street who is always out sweeping her garden and the street in front of it, she always seems so lonely and like this sweeping has become a natural coping thing for her, but of what, who knows.

    Interesting write.

    • 9 years ago

      by konpreah

      Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.

  • 9 years ago

    by John Doe

    I really liked it,the way you have depicted the persistence we all display in our daily life,to fight all that is bad,to be at a place better than the one we were yesterday,I love it all,great poem.Thank you for sharing it!

    • 9 years ago

      by konpreah

      Thanks for the good word.

  • 9 years ago

    by Hellon

    Wow....this reminds me of some poems I read years ago. I don't mean you have taken words from other poems..it's the style/layout that you have presented here. The rhyme perhaps?...I'm not sure what it is but..I am sure that I absolutely loved this one...I will come back and read this again I'm sure...

    • 9 years ago

      by konpreah

      Glad to know that you liked it.

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