On the line
On the line

Clothes Line Sonata

Sailing, swirling, swinging, flying
with the wind
basking in the sun,
tethered by a single line
cast upon the shore. Trusting.
You waltz on and on and on and on
Neither partner will touch the earth.
Swing, sway, swish and even flap
and snap under the sun.                                                                                                                     You know the secret
that binds each of us to the music.

Married at shoulder and hem
sharing the same pin.
Often tugging, twisting or fighting
for release, reform and freedom.
You wait to change. Faithfully,
at end of day you
surrender to our call: “Please
come in teach us                                                                                                                     the song of fresh air                                                                                                             and sunshine”.

Carol Carlisle

Yesterday Daily Post asked for photographs of something “everydayness” Clothes hanging on a line came to my mind. But in the fog belt where I live, hanging clothes out is risky busyness, they never get dry. I did find these high on an apartment building in far inland Berkeley. Maybe 4 miles away.

I’m sure many of you have recollections of fresh laundry on wash day. Dose anyone remember when Monday was wash day?

12 thoughts

  2. Remember that long double clothes line behind our house. Mom would do the wash every Monday morning. I’d wake up to the sound of that old ringer washer and Mom doing all the weekly wash. Gee, why did she have to start so early?? lol I can remember her going up and down those lines with a wet rag to clean them before she hung the wash out.

    Neal

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    1. I sure do remember the line besides our house. I broke my arm swinging off the pole. We got an automatic washer by the time we moved to Ponca ave. Great sensory memory there Neal 😎

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  3. I remember the sound of the sheets snapping in the wind and walking through them like there was suddenly a mysterious forest of fabric. Great memories, Carol! I thought your photo was shot in Italy; the color of the house and the fact that they still hang their clothes outside to dry.

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    1. Oh, yes the walking through forest of fabric. I remember that, too. I would get in trouble for playing in among the clean sheets. You are the second person that said this photo reminded them of Italy. I’ll have to go there to see for myself 😉

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    1. Yeeees!!! They sell stuff to put in the dryer to get that smell, sol I’m told, But you can’t buy sunshine…I do need some today.

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  5. there is something great about sun and wind dried laundry that you cannot get no matter how long it stays in a dryer or what fabric softener you use. your poem and photograph is perfect for this challenge. ☺

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