The washer stopped
with a buzzing sound;
I pulled out the clothes,
looked down, and found

• a melted crayon
• a whistle
• a string
• a barrette
• a shoelace
• a fake ruby ring
• a marble
• a button
• a ball of lint
• a foil wrapper from a restaurant mint
• a hair tie
• a pencil
• a bottle cap
• a shell
• more string
• a fabric scrap
• a bit of ribbon
• a couple beads
• a piece of chain
• sunflower seeds
• a screw
• a wire
• a twisty tie
• a penny
• a pebble
• a plastic fly
• a bobby pin
• an earring back
• a safety pin
• a rusty tack

all collected in
my washing machine,
scattered about
and sparkling clean.

I guess next time
laundry’s on the docket,
I first should check
my daughter’s pockets.

.

©2011 Carlotta Eike Stankiewicz