To dust
Or not to dust,
Is that even a question?
Housework calls,
But wait, just a moment-
Does writing call me louder?
To dust
Or not to dust,
domestic duties beckon.
I’ll swipe reject
and send it
straight to voice mail!
I shirk
house work
my spouse
cleans house
I try
she sighs
get out
she shouts
I smirk
no work
I leave
well pleased
all day
I play
I'm going to submit the words
the words that drive my daily thoughts
past wastelands of dirty laundry
and heaped up dishes that scream out
wash me while the water's hot
we're important, writing's not.
I can not seem to find the time
for sweeping all the dirt and grime
when all my thoughts reign far supreme
while bathroom thrones remain unclean.
priorities remain unclear
it's writing that I hold so dear.
But many women's efforts fail
their thoughts lie drowned in mopping pails
their words get lost in flying dust
and sensing this, I really must
submit the words, before they're lost
submit the words, at any cost.
Housework
Can't shirk
Dust dirt
Desert
Dusting
Busting
In hand
Disband
Move forth
With cloth
Wipe clean
Shine sheen
Wash clothes
Dirt goes
Hang out
Line route
Switch on
Iron
Decrease
Each crease
Vacuum
Bedroom
Wash floors
And doors
No fun
Jobs done.
*Route pronounced rowt for rhyme purpose*
25.08.23
Who was it who said
Housework prolongs your life?
Surely they jest!
They can go take a hike
I've collapsed on the couch
From just the mere thought
After leaving it it far longer
Than I reasonably ought
Where on earth do I start?
I just can't decide where
Each job worse than the last
I feel down in despair
If only.. if only.. if only
I'd done a bit every day
I'd be feeling self righteous
Instead of filled with dismay
I've practiced avoidance
Become expert at ignoring
Now I'm full of regrets
At the state of the flooring
The windows are grimy
The bathroom needs scrubbing
The washings piled up
Somethings blocking the plumbing
Who on earth has the time
To do extras like dusting?
When the fridge in the kitchen
Is looking disgusting?
I'm sure I'd be keener
And find motivation
If housework attracted
CEO compensation
Instead I lie here inert
Filled up with dread
Paralysed with reluctance
I'll eat biscuits instead
The kitchen's disinfected, the worktops squeaky clean,
The laundry's in the wardrobe and nothing's left in the machine.
The crockery is washed and dry, it's stacked in cupboards, looking neat.
There's just one nagging problem, I've got nothing left to eat!
She loves doing housework and cleaning her husband said.
He assumed this, as she enabled the rest of them to be pigs.
She expected to do the chores no one likes; it had been her mother’s life.
Her husband had no idea that his wife dreamed of an education.
She would have loved to take art, engineering or psychology classes.
She likes baking and cooking her children told everyone.
They signed her up to bring pies and cakes everywhere.
School, church, girl scouts, boy scouts – they signed her up.
She woke up early to bake, so she would not disappoint anyone.
After the children left, she left also. Finally chasing her dreams.
She has gone crazy her family said for they had never known her.
The more I let go of
these tiresome soul struggles,
the should haves,
the should bes,
the more it is possible,
to be messy and
alive.
I roning clothes – I love that job. Oh, my gosh!
L aundering them first is another one
O f numerous chores that let me wash
V arious things. Wash this or that. How fun!
E ven pots and pans! I must say . . .
H ow much more pleasure can there even be?
O n my hands and knees most of the day
U sing so much zeal makes me feel so free.
S uch a good place to be in mind and soul.
E very day I search for things that I can dust.
W ithout things to wipe off, what might be my role?
O ven cleaning. What joy! Mopping – a must!
R are are nights that early to bed I go.
K eeping up chores, I sing Heigh Ho Heigh Ho!
Sept. 6, 2021
Acrostic sonnet for Message in an Acrostic 2 Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Kim Rodrigues
There's more to keeping house,
Than washing dishes, sweeping floors.
You must wipe away the dirt,
From window sills and doors.
Picking up and straightening,
For certain is a must,
But if you want it to be clean,
It's wash and scrub and dust.
Because you ran the vacuum,
You think you've done a chore,
But did you wash the window panes?
Did you mop the floor?
The cupboard doors need wiping down,
Else they get greasy, tacky.
The hood above the stove as well,
The counter tops are nasty.
Then there's dusting to be done,
And don't forget the bathroom.
Tub and toilet, bathroom sink,
Deodorize the room.
Now if you think your work is done,
The bedrooms need a cleaning,
So everything smells fresh and clean,
As you lay a-dreaming.
Tomorrow is another day,
Just like the one before.
You did all this just yesterday,
But it must have grown some more.
There's more to keeping house,
Than washing dishes, sweeping floors.
You must wipe away the dirt,
From window sills and doors.
Picking up and straightening,
For certain is a must,
But if you want it to be clean,
It's wash and scrub or bust.
Because you ran the vaccuum,
You think you've done a chore;
But did you wash the window panes?
Did you mop the floor?
The cupboard doors need wiping down,
Else they get greasey, tacky.
The hood above the stove as well.
The counter tops are nasty.
Then there's dusting to be done,
And don't forget the bathroom.
Tub and toilet, bathroom sink,
Deodorize the room.
Now if you think your work is done,
The bedrooms need a cleaning;
So everything smells fresh and clean,
As you lay a-dreaming.
Tomorrow is another day,
Just like the one before.
You did all this just yesterday,
But it must have grown some more.
So many things to do today.
Things I love to do, and other things not so much fun.
Paperwork. Ugh. I wish it had never been invented.
Despise it, even online. A never ending story.
Like housework.
Druggery that barely lasts long enough
For the ink to dry or the dust bunnies to settle.
I have a quirky mind that does not like being bored with the humdrum.
I refuse to acknowledge the
Grown up parts of myself,
Preferring to focus on the fun things I can do.
The things that give me joy and uplift my soul.
Art, poetry, painting, spending time with my grandchildren.
I am all about these things.
Things that uplift and make me feel happy.
Paperwork and housework I leave to my minions.
Too bad I have none of them.
There is a teensy tiny bit of hope in the recesses of my mind
That this house will clean itself.
That I will wake up and it will be done.
The pages and piles and boxes and bags will
Have miraculously disappeared overnight.
There is another part of me that
Simply does not care.
I will tap into that part today.
It is a Saturday, my day off.
More snow tonight. Makes sense.
We just paid to have the snow removed from the driveway.
Dripping Dry
It’s fun not
to lie,
Dishes are done
let’s have some
Fun!
Friday Night
At last
Time for a Blast
Take it all in
Like a Dolphin
that swims
Hemming my new bell bottoms.
Summer radio blaring to best seventies hits.
School's out ~ life is good.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 1st place 2026
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