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Of The Room That Binds Us All

by Chris Sorrenti


Walking into the tiny room
I felt as though I was in a dream
most surreal
as on one side
below a hanging mirror
now reflecting anything but beauty
there stood a vestibule
only recently emptied of liquid

As if akin to an altar
underneath various sundries
albeit neatly placed
around the aged white structure
was a clear layer of dust
of whose substance shined unappealingly
via the electric light above

The vestibule itself
had a distinct brownish ring
with pieces of hair accumulated
some short as iron filings
others long as an animal's
in varying colors
clinging without effort to its surface

On the floor
in the middle of the room
sat a chair of porcelain
and upon viewing it
a vision came to me
of it once being all white and shiny
comfortable in its construction
now a distracting dull…inside and out

With stains of varying shape and size
it spoke languidly of escape
for no longer did it sit proud of purpose
as I quickly surmised
even its padded seat
would provide little relief
for even the most seasoned derriere

Finally
across from the mirror
behind a light blue curtain of penguins
built into an adjacent wall on the floor
sat another sculpture
as if designed for gods
made of the same material
yet long enough to hold an entire body

It too seemed only recently drained
leaving a layer of grime
across its entire surface
and on the ledges above it as well
as if a small army had taken advantage
of its comforts…generosity
and then quickly left
without paying the toll

my eyes darted from one structure to another
and then in horror
I saw the rugs and floor below
connecting them all
forcing me to realize
this vision was no dream
but a waking nightmare
for I had company coming in just a few hours...

and my bathroom needed cleaning again

© 2008

1,590 hits as of January 2024


12/06/2008

Posted on 12/06/2008
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 12/07/08 at 02:52 AM

You know what they say, cleanliness is next to poeticness. The dreaded bathroom...should be a Poe-poem! Frightening! Great read, thanks.

Posted by George Hoerner on 12/07/08 at 01:25 PM

Really great write Chris. I have to show this to my wife. She has the 'lady macbeth syndrome'. Her mother welded it to her and she will never let go. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, if there is nothing else to do.

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 12/08/08 at 03:53 PM

bwahahahahahahah! Well done. I love the elegant feel to the "aged white structure", the "porcelain chair", the "sculpture". You clever man!

Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 12/09/08 at 01:49 AM

I laughed aloud on this one as I read the last line! Clever use of terms which covered the real intent of the room until the end. Very well written.

Posted by Mara Meade on 01/11/09 at 06:27 AM

I'm in STITCHES!!!! This is just hysterical...

Posted by Bruce W Niedt on 02/04/09 at 01:17 AM

Haha, this is great - I caught on by the fifth stanza, but it didn't decrease the impact of the "punch line" - great description throughout.... d:-)

Posted by Bruce W Niedt on 02/04/09 at 01:18 AM

Haha, this is great - I caught on by the fifth stanza, but that didn't lessen the impact of the "punch line" - excellent description throughout.... d:-)

Posted by Joan Serratelli on 02/17/09 at 05:03 PM

Great read- will you PLEASE ome clean my bathrom???

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