new year purge

you start the new
year off with purging.
first the refrigerator,
condiments and things
wrapped and forgotten.
then the closets,
sweaters that have
lost their shape, pants
that sag and hang on
you. then the cupboard
full of chipped
dishes and glasses.
that bent fork in the
drawer, dull knives.
the magazines that lie
flat and curled over
the edges of your
nightstand, unread, just
glanced at with a polite
nod at the cartoons,
and then skimmed.
then you open
your phone and begin
to delete there. one
after another. lost
connections, old loves,
near loves, some likes
and lusts tossed in
there too, forgotten
friends, that neither
return your calls or
press one letter of
hello, how are you,
what's up, and hit send.