Claire Cleans Up
Claire was asked to clean her room,
a chore which she abhorred.
Claire designed a silly game
to prevent her getting bored.
She gave herself two points
for each small thing she threw away,
four for clothing, five for toys,
and eight for her duvet.
Twelve for books, fifteen for lamps,
Twenty-one for any shoe,
Claire’s cat, who sauntered by her room,
Was worth one hundred two!
Claire’s room was quickly barren;
Claire proclaimed, “It’s not a shame.
Maybe I will miss my things,
but I have won my game!”
a chore which she abhorred.
Claire designed a silly game
to prevent her getting bored.
She gave herself two points
for each small thing she threw away,
four for clothing, five for toys,
and eight for her duvet.
Twelve for books, fifteen for lamps,
Twenty-one for any shoe,
Claire’s cat, who sauntered by her room,
Was worth one hundred two!
Claire’s room was quickly barren;
Claire proclaimed, “It’s not a shame.
Maybe I will miss my things,
but I have won my game!”
This poem is copyright (©) Cindy Greene 2025
About the Writer
Cindy Greene
Cindy loves to write poetry and picture books while sitting at her kitchen table, while running, and when she is supposed to be sleeping. Cindy helps non-profits, works on issues of racial justice, and spends time with her fun family and ball-obsessed dog. She likes to laugh a lot. Cindy’s poetry can be found in several anthologies and stamped in a concrete sidewalk in her town.
