clothesline

This week's (completely optional) prompt at Poetry Thursday was to compose a poem using words we either love or hate (or both).  I pondered that idea and started writing--coming from the slant of thoughts I love or hate...and how the simplest, most common words can be part of those kinds of thoughts.  Here's what came out...

I
you
us
them
those people

wouldn’t it be lovely
if one could
live
in a constant state
of we?

some of the most
commonplace
words
can be some of the biggest
dividers

they

what if there was
no they?
what if there
was only
us?

if words could be seen
as they floated out
of our mouths
would we feel no
shame
as they passed beyond
our lips?

if we were to string
our words
on a communal clothesline
would we feel proud
as our thoughts
flapped in the
breeze?

And there it was...clothesline.  Anyone who's read here for any length of time probably knows that I have a thing about clotheslines.  I love them.  Unlike most people these days, they don't carry a low-class connotation for me.  I find great beauty in them...and sometimes even metaphorical power. Like at The Clothesline Project.

Take a look at Project Laundry List where they promote the benefits of line-drying.  This depressed me:  "Clotheslines are banned by nearly all of California's 35,000 homeowners' associations." 

And I love this photo by David Carlson.

Last week for Poetry Thursday I posted a video of a poem road in Taiwan.  Here's the original post.  I asked if any of you would like to create a video poem road with me.  I began to get comments and emails about how the idea might play out beyond my original one.  Liz and Lynn mentioned it at Poetry Thursday.  It was beginning to feel like my little poem road project deserved a place of its own so that it might grow and expand as the result of others' imaginations.  If you'd like to participate (in any way that you like) and/or provide feedback or suggestions, please go to Poem Road.

And don't be shocked if someday you see a clothesline-related project from me...I can feel it coming...

Lastly, I'm way behind in my reading and commenting.  Please bear with me as I finish up at my job this week and next.  I'm spending most evenings curled up in bed, reading...and trying to give myself permission to spend minimal time on the computer until I have a chance to regroup.  So please don't take it personally if I haven't commented in awhile...I'm just trying to nurture myself through this last push at work.  Vacation's coming soon...

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Want to do a good deed today?  Go to Kathleen's site and scroll down the right sidebar until you see this:      click on the shortie to DONATE for our beach trip!  Her Baltimore 4th graders are selling like mad to raise funds for a summer trip to the beach.  We can give them a little help, can't we?  I guarantee you'll feel better after making a donation.  I know I did.

Comments

[tinker]

I love clotheslines myself, and the idea of our words strung along one, hung out for all to see, is definitely food for thought. Thanks!

[Paris Parfait]

Terrific poem! I love that idea if we could see the words coming out of our mouths, "would we feel no shame." I also like clotheslines and miss them - we can't have them in Paris, although we can put discreet drying racks on our balconys. My stepdaughter took a series of photos of clothes hanging outdoors when in China. Maybe I'll use them in a future post.

Again, great imaginative poem!

[megg]

This post is so bursting with inspiration!! I also love LOVE clotheslines - there's a gentleness about them that makes me relax. I am excited to go and play at your poem road site, and I really enjoyed your poem. It was so full of truth. I hope that you feel back on top of things soon - xo

[susan]

This is a wonderful poem! Found you through Poetry Thursday!

[Tonya]

I really really dig that poem... thank you!

[Rebekah]

This is filled with nostalgia, sweetness, inspiration and playfulness. I just love it. And I'm glad to hear you are taking care of yourself!

[M]

I also love clotheslines -- I had the best one when I was in Eureka. It was an extension of my redwood fence and looked really good. I sure miss having one.

[bella]

I loved your poem Marilyn.
I also love clotheslines. I've got one in the backyard. Nothing like fresh dried laundry smell.

[Jana]

"what if there was
no they?
what if there
was only
us?"

Marilyn, that is SO awesome!!!! I love that! The unity in that thought.... WOW!

[Jim]

I love it, clothesline poetry--imagine what homeowners associations would try to do to stop that! "Oh my god, there's a sonnet loose in the neighbor's yard!"

[wlfryke]

while I can't say that I like anything about laundry, the idea of delicates hanging out to dry, I like. Undies and undershirts,we all wear them, no matter who we are. They are foundation garmets after all. and at that foundation, we are all the same...Lovely literal image to finish your poem.

thanks
Wendy

[Colorsonmymind]

Love the flow

[liz elayne]

if we could see the words as they floated out of our months. yes.

sometimes i am intrigued by the thought that when we write we actually do get to see them, and still, sometimes we manage to hurt one another. it is interesting in its own way.

clothesline. hmmm....a clothesline of poems perhaps....
love visiting you my dear. inspiration abounds.

[dawn]

I love your poem! And I agree about clotheslines. I can't have one here in the Big Apple, but on laundry day I do string clothes up in my apartment. I know, it's not quite the same.

[Lynn]

Yes, if all our words were visible, we would be more accountable for them, and careful with them, wouldn't we?

[deb]

Love the I/you/us/them poem. I second that. (yum.)