scrubbing the last pot

it's a relief

to put the last dish away,

to scrub

the final

pot, to take down the decorations,

to set

the tree at the curb.

it's a relief

to toss the cards

into the bin,

to unstring the lights from

the porch

and awning.

it's almost over before

it even

began back in Halloween.

and now

to vacuum

for the needles and tinsel

that have

fallen,

to put the candles and snow

globes away,

to pour one last drink

from

the nearly empty

bottle of gin.