Welcome to My life in the shadows




 
MOTHER’S DEXTER
 
I still remember Mother’s old Dexter,
She called it “magic”.
Two large porcelain tubs divided by a wringer.
One filled with hot soapy water,
The other clear and clean
To rinse the soap and scum
From another spring's day away.
I remember watching her
As she labored there
In that dirty old basement.
Watching
As she took each piece of soiled cloth,
Always with a smile
And put it through the wringer,
From dirty water into clean
Watching all that filth
Smashed out of dad’s shirts, and mine,
Believing I could hear each piece sigh
As they splashed renewed and clean
Into the dark depths of clear water.
I still think of that old machine
From time-to-time
Remembering days when
Father would show his love
And I wished
I could have washed my life away
In Mother’s magic wringer.
 
Spring 1959
 
Page 11
 
uTAH jAY
 


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MOTHER`S DEXTER