When I was a child, my mother and grandmother had a weekly ritual for completing all their domestic tasks. My mother used to recite a little poem that explained the basis for much of their work pattern: Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday, Bake on Wednesday, Shop on Thursday, Sweep on Friday, Mend on Saturday, Rest on Sunday, and on Monday, start all over again!
Monday’s wash
line dries in the sun -
wind whipped freshness
Crisp white linen
button-down collars,cuffs linked with gold
elegant man
Sweet fragrant aroma
spices the air with love -
appetites aroused!
Market day riches
fruits, veggies galore
shopping cart brimful of bounty
Stiff whiskered broom
dusty corners swept clean
secret cobwebs disappear
Clothes torn and tattered
beg stitches to mend
nimble fingers deftly fly
Rocking chair waits
Drowsy sleeper lulled gently
into her day of rest
For more haiku, go here
Becca, you never cease to amaze me! These are SO cool, they should be embroidered or cross-stitched and passed on from generation to generation!
Thanks, Susan! The scary thing is that (except for the mending) I actually did a little of all that stuff today! Welcome to the fast paced 21st Century! Now, I’m off to the rocking chair…
These poems are just beautiful. Life is anchored by ceremony and ritual, the breathing in and out and in again that fills our days. I could smell that fresh laundry just in from the clothesline.
these are good! almost makes me in the mood for domestic duties – almost
Becca, these are wonderful! I love how the rituals of house-keeping inspired such beautiful Haiku. And the thing I miss most about the US is being able to take freshly-laundered clothes out of the dryer and them needing only light ironing, if any. Here you could spend hours every day ironing (but I don’t). Beautiful post.
These are fantastic! You’ve turned everyday chores into poetry. It makes me wish I had more time to write; there is so much around us for inspiration.
You’re the bright spot in my night of insomnia.
What a treat you have created here. History, family ritual and haiku to match the days. You rock!
I love how creative you are! My creativity stops when it comes to housework and I admire how you’ve turned a daunting chore into sheer poetry.
I’m afraid my family would complain dreadfully if I only washed once a week. All these labour saving devices just seem to mean higher standards.
The haiku are lovely though.
I’m still not sure having read your next post, how you managed to come up with ALL these today considering how busy you were?!
The last one is very fitting of course. I’m sure you needed that chair after all this exertion.
Lovely haikus. Must go-just noticed the many cobwebs…:)
I’m amazed. To find such beauty in simply, homely tasks. Now that I think about it, I’m IMPRESSED.
I like this series of haiku – especially the first one. That’s a great image.