Poets logo

A Deep Summer Cleanse

Out with the old to make room for the new

By Colleen Millsteed Published about a year ago 1 min read
Image courtesy of the Author

The water glistens from the refraction of light that bounds across the surface,

The glass-like frontage a pristine sleekness with a mirror sheen,

Perfect scenery for her to skip her thoughts across the top, like a rock skipped when she was but a child,

Each thought heavier than the last, until they drop silently into the water unseen.

******

A family of ducks tweak a thought from the air as it passes,

But spit it back out in a splutter and gag,

What she’d discarded was old poison, held within her mind to fester for years,

Until she broke her back on its constant drag.

******

Each skipped thought, discarded across the lake, becomes diluted,

Losing the power of torment as it’s washed clean,

She’s no longer interested in its mass destruction,

No longer allowing it to break her heart, scramble her mind or cause a scene.

******

It’s time to take the trash out,

A summer clean out of wasted space,

Cobwebs to be torn asunder, beds to be remade,

The deepest hole dug to bury the waste.

******

Some thoughts are good for drowning,

Others are buried deep within the ground,

A few are light hearted enough to grow their own wings,

But the tortuous thoughts are often not found.

******

She’s determined to sweep out every nook and cranny,

No corner will be allowed to harbour the wild west,

A tug-a-war ensues but it underestimates her strength,

And she tears those bad boys from their hiding, evicting them as her guest.

******

She finishes the chore with a quick dust and polish,

Showers off the dirt and grime,

Looks deep into her eyes through the mirror and whispers,

“I’ll not harbour thought invaders that others implanted, I’ll only harbour those thoughts that are genuinely mine.”

******

She sits once more by the side of the lake,

The pristine face of the water back to a picture perfect glean,

With no sign that she’d disturbed the peace and quiet, the ducks gliding about their day,

Her house of thoughts once more in order, freshly sparkling, gently nurturing and glisteningly clean.

inspirational

About the Creator

Colleen Millsteed

My first love is poetry — it’s like a desperate need to write, to free up space in my mind, to escape the constant noise in my head. Most of the time the poems write themselves — I’m just the conduit holding the metaphorical pen.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments (5)

Sign in to comment
  • Dharrsheena Raja Segarranabout a year ago

    This felt soooo empowering! Loved it, my kindred spirit!

  • Komalabout a year ago

    I love the vibe of this! The lake metaphor is perfect for clearing out those heavy thoughts. It’s like a mental spring cleaning with a peaceful, fresh start at the end. Such a cool way to show taking control and letting go!

  • Cathy holmesabout a year ago

    Wonderful work. I love the analogy of the thoughts skipping like a rock. Well done.

  • Andrew C McDonaldabout a year ago

    So cleansing and thought provoking. Beautifully written. 🥰

  • Daphsamabout a year ago

    Beautiful writing!

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.