Ann Foster Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

Washing Instructions

Washing Instructions

Put the clothes in the washer. 
not quickly, but slowly. 
There was a day, 
this would all be done, 
by hand. 

Four or five large things, 
Maybe some socks, 
a few, 
overload, 
and the cost will be high.
Why I am bothering?
Why you might ask?
Generalization…
leads to soap
and disaster.

The mechanic is expensive, 
a new machine is worse. 
Getting by on nothing, 
is important, 
when choices, 
are none. 

Stuffing everything in, 
no thought for next week, 
when there is no more, 
handy helper at the door. 
Broken into little pieces, 
costing more than can be paid. 

Hand washing everything, 
a consequence of learning, 
to read; instructions.

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Sandra Adams December 8, 2019 at 6:53 PM I remember seeing washing boards.. also remember a time the washer broke filled with water and i had to hand wring everything to get it out of the machine...tedious, i was glad i was born at a time where washing machines were less work than back when my mom was young... hugs

Line Gauthier December 8, 2019 at 4:24 PM LOL Most people never stop to think of things such as laundry but I remember my grandmother washing "by hand" with an antiquated washing machine with a wringer. They weren't afraid of hard work back then. It was a way of life. Ann Foster December 8, 2019 at 6:21 PM We must be sisters, as I remember watching my grandmother use the wringer too ... dangerous...We are lucky, and pay it no mind. Those that never had to even go to a laundry mat, well they are just silly people... no idea what work is... :) Ann