Sorry, I Forgot to Clean up after Myself (by Priscila Uppal)

Griffin Prize for Excellence In Poetry, The (2001 - 0)

Original Text

Priscilla Uppal, Ontological Necessities (Toronto: Exile Editions, 2006). This poem is reproduced on the Griffin Prize Web Site (from a volume on the 2007 Canadian Shortlist).

1Sorry, Sirs and Madams, I forgot to clean up after myself

2after the unfortunate incidents of the previous century.

3How embarrassing; my apologies. I wouldn’t advise you

4to stroll around here without safety goggles, and I must insist

5that you enter at your own risk. You may, however, leave

6your umbrella at the door. Just keep your ticket.

7We expected, of course, to have this all cleared away by the time

8you arrived. The goal was to present you

9with blue and green screens, whitewashed counters.

10Unforeseen expenses.

11Red tape.

12So hard to find good help these days.

13But, alas, excuses. Perhaps you will appreciate

14the difficulties I’ve faced in providing you a clean slate.

15If you step into a hole, Sirs and Madams, accept the loss

16of a shoe or two. Stay the course.

17Progress is the mother of invention. Here: take my hand.

18Yes, that’s right. You can return it on the way back.

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

2011