Afterthought

“Be the change
you want to see
in the world.”

A popular quote, that.

Perhaps
it would also be
worth your time
to examine
what you’ve contributed
to what needs to change

by digging into the piles
that trail behind you
for as far
as you’ve traveled
to be here now.

They stink,
are dirty, filthy even,
full of memories
you thought were good —
and so much else you barely recall
having done,
you don’t know what you might learn
until you hold them to your nose
and inhale —
that’s you there.
All of you.
What you left behind.  What
soiled the world. 

Be ready to clean up after yourself
because you are likely to sick up
something when you do this;
and then
when you’re empty
you can
move on.