POEM: IN PRAISE OF NOTHING

by Gerry Loose

in your house there should be nothing
your house should be nothing but a hut, a shelter

in your hut there should be
three shelves, which is all you need

the first is for books you cannot remember
the second is for herbs and pulses
the third is pots, pans and knives

the second shelf is highest
since though you are happy to share with mice
rice and your sheltering books are forbidden

there will also be a fire or
these days an iron stove, surrounded by logs

nothing but logs and kindling
you have gathered, felled and split
with your own axe and nothing hands

maybe your nothing also
contains a bucket and cup for nebulous water

you understand
you have something of nothing
which is everything