shredding

yesterday,
i was shredding
the past seven years
in a cloud of paper
and bleach and dust
statements and figures
and hopes and fears
saving only those
that i must.
taxi receipts
project notes
the first time i came
to these shores:
all gone
an effortless whirr
and a waiting black bin bag
tied up, the past
weighs a ton.
yesterday,
i was shredding
the past seven years.