Strawberry stains speak specifically of decades;
slow afternoons
when traffic converts into arteries of light around the heart
of the metropolis,
equal parts exhaustion and hope—
of times when we would lounge in front of the television set for hours
on end, bread sticks and cheese
in the corner cupboard, which one of us
would begrudgingly
get up to get; where, oh where have those days gone?
Of first kisses, awkward and rushed,
I can still recall the fragrance on my cardigan when we’d held hands
and dropped chutney accidentally in the process—
I guess that’s what you get
for not
doing your laundry on time; but knowing me, I’d do it all over again.
How else do you walk such glorious distances together?
Photo credits: Pinterest
De hosts at dVerse and invites us to write laundry poems.
Come join us! 💝
I love the carelessness of love with those stains of strawberry and chutney (not to mention breadsticks and cheese), maybe it’s the insistence of washing up that puts an end to it all.
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I love this poem, Sanaa, and the way it looks back on stains with love and longing.
Thank you so much, my dearest Kim 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Sanaa, this is just gorgeous. So much scented memory here, tumbled together. Perfect.
Thank you so much, De 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
(and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🌹
I love that ending. It’s almost like a companion piece to Bjorn’s poem. I am a neglectful housewife – there are always more interesting things to do! – so this really spoke to me.
Thank you so much, Sarah 😀 so glad the poem spoke to you 💄❤️
Perhaps you wouldn’t want to launder the cardigan, to keep the scent and the memories locked in? A beautiful love poem Sanaa!
Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
The little moments that are the fabric of love are woven well in this delightful poem.
Thank you so much, Beverly 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Marvelous work Sanaa. I esp love the “arteries of light around the heart / of the metropolis” line break. Great stuff.
Thank you so much, Ron 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
I so love how you tell stories from the food stains – so much nostalgia in the verses. I bet you keep some of them for their sweet memories.
Thank you so much, Grace 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Oh so romantic describing everyday things in a relationship. very special Sanaa. I loved the chutney spill ☺️
Thank you so much, Christine 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Great piece, especially
‘slow afternoons
when traffic converts into arteries of light around the heart
of the metropolis,
equal parts exhaustion and hope—’
❤️❤️❤️
I’d do it all over again.
How else do you walk
such glorious distances together?
It is a small inconvenience but helps tremendously to sustain a beautiful friendship. Why not? Great words Sanaa!
Hank
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Hank 💄❤️
Such wonderful word painting in this poem, coupled with the strong evocation of place, like “traffic converts into arteries of light around the heart of the metropolis”
One of those ones you read through several times to make sure you catch it all.
Thank you so much, Alexandra 🙂 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Oh Saana. This is wonderful. Such longing! ❤️
❤️❤️❤️
So much love and longing held in those stains! I love the chutney–I can so imagine that scene. ❤️
Thank you so much, Merril 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️