The following poem is one of my all time favorites. I found it on a poetry site that I used to visit that would have poetry contests. Last time I went to that site, it was over run with pop ups and had just really gone down hill. It is a shame that when I went looking for this poem online, there were many sites that it was posted to, but the authors name was not on it in many of them. I am not even sure that the name of the author listed on this one is correct. I hope so. The sentiment is soooo true, although I am not actually old enough to remember clothesline times like these. Of course, I live in a rainy place too, so maybe it wasn't as big of a thing here either.. As far back as I can remember, we always had a washer and dryer though.
Again, like most things, it got me thinking though. In the old days clotheslines were sort of the news broadcast of a families events. People had little choice in the matter either, I mean, you gotta have clean clothes, right!?! Now days, with computers, we share even more with anyone we've friended on whatever social network we are posting to. I don't know about you, but I have quite a few "friends" I don't really know or know all that well... And ironically, NONE of my "friends" are any of my neighbors. Well, enough of my blabbering on, I hope you enjoy the poem as much as I do! BTW I have found this poem to be a great one to give to elderly people. They tend to remember these times well!
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A clothesline poem
A clothesline was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by,
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.
To neighbors passing by,
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.
It also was a friendly link
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by
To spend a night or two.
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by
To spend a night or two.
For then you'd see the "fancy sheets"
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the "company table cloths"
With intricate designs.
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the "company table cloths"
With intricate designs.
The line announced a baby's birth
From folks who lived inside -
As brand new infant clothes were hung,
So carefully with pride!
From folks who lived inside -
As brand new infant clothes were hung,
So carefully with pride!
The ages of the children could
So readily be known
By watching how the sizes changed,
You'd know how much they'd grown!
So readily be known
By watching how the sizes changed,
You'd know how much they'd grown!
It also told when illness struck,
As extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
Haphazardly were strung.
As extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
Haphazardly were strung.
It also said, "Gone on vacation now"
When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged
With not an inch to spare!
When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged
With not an inch to spare!
New folks in town were scorned upon
If wash was dingy and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way .. . .
If wash was dingy and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way .. . .
But clotheslines now are of the past,
For dryers make work much less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess!
For dryers make work much less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess!
I really miss that way of life.
It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best
By what hung on the line.
It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best
By what hung on the line.
Written by: Marilyn K. Walker
