Drying Green

A strong string holds a lifetime of clothes.
Faithful during downpours and droughts,
secure in a side yard row
beside copper stones
made larger by shapeshifting shadows. 
Granny put the clothespin on my nose.
Divine.
Release of clean garment from sturdy twine.

d’Verse Poet’s Pub | Quadrille Monday 209 — Plucking Strings

44-words to include a string of my own.

Cover Art: Vintage Movie Print

May Erlewine “Days Go By”

27 responses to “Drying Green”

Anonymous

Luv where the prompt took you

much♡love

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Why, thank you. I have a lot of fond memories washing, drying and folding with my mom and grandma.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
John

Lovely! I didn’t think that anyone knew what twine is these days…

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you. Oh, I can’t see how a bit of string could go out of fashion. It’s my son’s favorite pocket item. Infinitely useful, a piece of twine.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. John
    
    Cool, I remember my grandparents using twine for so many things those many years ago.
    
    LikeLike
The Cheesesellers Wife

I, too, love where you took the prompt!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you. I wish I could string out this memory indefinitely.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Anonymous

Nice subtle end rhyme. I was so wrapped in the story, I didn’t notice until “divine.”

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you. I’m glad it flowed natural and that you enjoyed this true tale.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Laura Bloomsbury

a kindred poem indeed – I can smell the laundry – and the shadowing of the copper stones is like the spirits conjured in the memories here

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you. My grandmother lived in the mountains and those orange stones, they seem almost like salt lamps in my memory.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
msjadeli

Katie, hanging clothes on the line is a utilitarian, yet meditative experience. I continue to hang clothes on the line and much prefer it to an electric dryer.

I love that connection between you and your Granny ❤

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Lisa. I agree, and I wish we had the yard to hang clothes, but we do put some on the balcony. Things dry quick, but don’t have that wonderful sunshine smell here.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. msjadeli
    
    You’re welcome. Nice that you can still hang them out but sorry they don’t have the sunshine smell.
    
    LikeLike
paeansunplugged

The smell of laundry is divine !

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  I agree. Thank you. It’s my favorite city smell to pass a dryer vent or to just take in that soapy smell from an emptied washer.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. paeansunplugged
    
    You are welcome. I love that soapy smell too.
    In India, most of us still line dry clothes because we get plenty of sunshine and the clothes smell so fresh.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  2. Katie Frances Hartless
    
    Nice. I can imagine the strings of clothes flapping liken pendant flags.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
  3. paeansunplugged
    
    😊❤️
    
    LikeLike
kim881

Delightful, Katie. Your poem reminded me of my childhood, helping my nan peg up the laundry on the washing line.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  I really enjoyed that chore, myself. I think it was more the time alone with my granny. It was also a great time for singing between the two of us.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

I always hang my clothes to dry… the dryer I only use for towels. Love where the prompt stringed you

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Björn. How very nice to be able to do that. I hang up all of the delicates and a few other things, but we don’t really have the space to hang things up or the reliable sunshine to get things dry. Cheers to memories that we can string and air out with words.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Bob

Wonderful!

LikeLiked by 3 people

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Bob. I think of these moments from childhood, and I’m instantly at peace.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. Bob
    
    I know what you mean. I can definitely drift off into those memories of being a kid too.
    
    LikeLike
Susi Bocks

Lovely feel of nostalgia, Katie!

LikeLike

Reply