The Love Song of Mrs. Sarah Speirits A clean house beats any cake or bake, Any roast or toast or lasagne. A cake will only be cut, A meal devoured, digested and dissolved. And though the food may well be enjoyed and appreciated, It will soon be forgotten – The belly beats the beauty And the beauty eats alone. Sure, a clean house will soon succumb to the mess, But it’s still better. Every time. My clean house remembers. In my clean house I can always see the beauty Whether I eat alone or with many. In my clean house I see the football trophies, Graduation photos and books about aeroplanes. Through my clean window I can see the cherry blossom tree My granddaughters loved so much, The hedges my husband trimmed so well. I see my daughter wave as she turns the corner, I see Danny walking down with the kids, I see my son walk through the front door of the car rental shop Before he takes me for a drive….somewhere. Anywhere. It really doesn’t matter where Because I’ll be coming back to my clean house And my clean house keeps the memories with me. I’ll hoover the carpets and mop the floors, Polish the trophies and dust the photo frames For every Eddie or Sadie, Daniel or Katie, Visiting loved one or Giffnock lady That I will welcome. I will keep them alive with the memories they leave. - Damian