About the Poem

My basement has a tendency to go from a state of pseudo-clean to a dank, dingy, deluge of debris in what seems like a matter of moments.

What happens down there, anyway? I don't spend any time there. Who's making that great big mess? I've been thinking about sending out the "Cellar Dweller" Patrol to resolve it once and for all.

Does anyone really like to do that dreaded cleaning in their basement? Doesn't it always seem like there's got to be some sort of malevolent force deterring us from ever completing the job? Well, perhaps we just need to see things from a new perspective - with a little levity.

Cellar Dwellers

by Nancy Ness

How can I get my basement clean?
Those cellar dwellers are so mean!
Undoing all that I have done,
They think - perhaps I'm having fun?

Scrub as I might they do not care.
They hide in corners everywhere;
Those little fellers pink in hue
Conspirators, my work undo.

I hear them twitter at my back,
Cacophonous counter attack.
Each corner now devoid of stuff,
Upon the walls I see them stuck!!

These puny paired prolific pests
Have brand new Cellar Dweller nests.
Their young imprint me as their mom
And cling to me. Where'd they come from?

I scoop them up, neat as you please,
But - WHOOSH - they're off then with a breeze.
Sweep them again to cast them out,
"All Cellar Dwellers, SCAT", I shout!!

I'll never win this war, I fear.
These Cellar Dwellers will live here
Long after this is not my home -
Pink peanut packing Styrofoam.

Unfortunately, this author has failed to maintain a valid email address with us. If you know the author, please ask them to contact us with a current email address.

Author

If you especially appreciated this author, we'll be happy to show you where you might find more of their poems

14 Visitor Comments

sherry

Fantasticly funny!

Radi

I LOVED THIS! the end was so random and unexpected! TOOOOO COOL! rolling in the floor out of laughter

zach

SWEET!

Bonnie

really cute enjoyed reading it.

that reminds me of my basement. noway of cleaning it except for tearing everything apart and throwing it in a dumptruck and hauling it away. i wish i had a gf.

Wen

The poem is really hilarious,and it describes the problem most housewives face.

avanika

this was a really touching poem, i simply llllllllooooooovvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeddddd it!

Autumn

The author of the poem obviously kept it simple but had fun with it. I like the ending most, when the author reveals what the cellar dwellars are; styrafoam. i think it was humorous overall!

Sean

BEST POEM I HAVE EVER HEARD ARE U AN EXPERT? I AM PRINTING THIS AND PUTTING IT ON MY WALL REALLY GREAT TY

Marty

Great poem. Really Original

John

This poem, I like. The rhyme is regular but not forced. The meter is good and the poem tells a story of sorts. The reader gets empathy for the writer's predicament right away. The poem is honest, sincere and it gives you that, "oh, no! I've been there, too." feeling.

katie

very clever i liked it!

Pamela

I thought that poem was clever and humourous! It is those small but true things in life that make us laugh!

the

I love it!!!!!

All Visitor Comments on this poem have been posted by people who wanted to let the author know the poem touched their hearts. If you would like to leave a comment of your own, please Vote for this poem.