Thanks to Buffy Silverman who is hosting this Poetry Friday, at her blog, HERE. She has a poem that 'buzzes' with spring delights! Thanks, Buffy!
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| Down the street, someone else's "extra trash". |
a haibun
Many spent the Pandemic year at home and cleaned out their homes. What else was there to do but discover "extra trash"? Our own Denver Trash Company does an "extra" pickup every eight weeks. Tuesday was "my neighborhood's day". As I walked the blocks, the piles filled my imagination. Here was a wonder of a cat tree, or "cat heaven" some feline might term it. Was this a cat goodbye, too? Another put out a full-length mirror. Are they tired of seeing too much of themselves, related to "Quarantine weight gain"? Also, tied-up board scraps sparked reminders of quarantine home projects. There was a file cabinet, a cardboard shelf, and a washer. One on my own pile has been in the family since my son was born, a long while ago. I forgot to take a picture but it, this two feet tall plastic container, was the diaper pail. On the way to Colorado, it held towels. After the move, my children used it for toys, water balloons, all kinds of balls. Now, here in my new home, bags. Yes, all those bags we accumulate when all we really need are a few in the car. Well, the bags are in another pile to giveaway, not trash, but "extra".
empty at the curb
white tub waits for a toss,
memories stay
Linda Baie ©
Wow, I love that you have found treasures in the extra trash day. You are looking with the eyes of a poet. I love reading about what you reminisce about the white tub, and even considering the memories and losses of others. It is a sweet and poignant post, with broader implications of throwing out the pandemic and quarantining, as well.
ReplyDeleteYou remind me of a day long ago when my son was about seven. We were driving through the neighborhood early in the morning of "yard sale" day. He piped up...Oh! It's trash sale day. Our nation seems to be consumed with consuming which leads to trash. I love the story of your diaper pail. What a great example of "reuse." And, what a great haibun.
ReplyDeleteThose extra trash weeks always fascinate me! So much interesting stuff. In my neighborhood, here is a guy who goes up and down the alleys with an old rattly pick-up truck, searching for treasures!
ReplyDeleteFascinating observations -- always interesting to see others' possessions and wonder about their lives. Your white tub has had many different adventures. I think it likes being useful so you won't get rid of it. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful haibun!
ReplyDeleteSo many possible stories in what folks discard! And the haiku at the end of your haibun is a perfect summary.
ReplyDeleteI love this haibun. Even though it is about trash, it is rich with memories. I love that you get a scheduled bonus pickup. So smart. Do people "shop" the piles?
ReplyDeleteI like Mary Lee's question: Do people shop the piles? How you found treasures and memories in other's trash. Great haibun. I took shredding to our nieghborhood dumpster day last week.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all who commented. I seem to be nostalgic about many things, but somehow giving away this white tub really touched me. It was cracked & no longer useful which I didn't mention, yet I still had hung on. To the question: yes, people do seem to shop the piles. I had a broken towel rack in my pile which was gone before pickup. The things I mentioned might have met someone's need. I know that some, as Carol mentioned, do drive around looking for items they might sell, too. It's an interesting day of looking!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of Extra Trash Day (we don't have them). Very worthy of a poem! Glad you were able to commemorate your white tub.
ReplyDelete"memories stay" - and don't clutter our house! I love your true-to-life haibun, Linda. :)
ReplyDeleteThis week while I wasm't feeling well, I got in the mood to declutter and out some trash or recycled items went. I wondered why I took many of the items I trashed to VA with me but that is for another day. I like that you chose this topic, Linda, and that you developed it into a haibun. It is true that some memories stay with us like the story of your pail and how it had different uses as the children grew.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tabatha, Bridget, & Carol - glad to read your words!
ReplyDeleteLove this and your pail of memories. The "extra trash" title is curious, since isn't all trash extra? The cat tree and the cat, the mirror and the weight. Yes.
ReplyDeleteIt's the Denver Refuse term for what won't fit into a trash bag & the container where they pick up everything else on a weekly basis. I re-cycle & compost so I have so little trash, I usually don't put out the cart more than twice a month. But, every eight weeks, people gather big things that won't fit elsewhere. I guess mostly they don't want to take it to second-hand places. My 'extra' was all broken things. Thanks, Heidi!
DeleteYour haiku really sums up all in so few words—empty though we still have the memories. I like all the images here to. What a great idea to have an extra trash day for larger items. Here in Chicago allies people will put almost anything out, and someone will either take it or else the garbage collectors compress it…
ReplyDeleteAlways great to see a Haibun poem Linda. A form I am attracted to. You are right in stating that while the item may disappear the memory remains, be it in a Haibun, or your memory. It remains fascinating to observe what is laid out on the street when these collections come around. I shall make a point of making a closer observation next time.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know what a haibun was until today. And I love how you used it in this pandemic memory journey of your own and others possessions, once so useful now on the curb. Fridays are pickup days for the things people are getting rid of here that don't belong in the regular garbage pickup. When I walk to the supermarket, and pass it all by, I sometimes wonder about the life those things led before they were tossed.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how others handle their trash pickup. Every time this happens here, start wondering about the things left. Thanks, Michelle, Alan, & Alex!
ReplyDeleteI love the haibun form, Linda. This is a great subject -- balancing all of the details of the things you saw out on the street against one tiny moment, the empty white tub.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura. It was fun to ponder, then write.
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