Laundry

Sitting at the Laundromat, and these lines came to me. Some credit must go to Yeats' "Second Coming."

Tumbling and tumbling in the maddening spin:
The Laundry cannot hear the launderer.
I have tumbled through the darkened, heated spheres
Wondering that there is no laundering
For the soul---

For I have sinned, in my thoughts and words,
And become
     unclean.

I have spun and spun,
     until I must be sick
Vomit forth my colors,
     And die---
          soulless
               bleached.

Clink-clink
     go the coins
and the relentless humming
     begins anew.

From my vantage, I watch
And see the pointless tasks---
Folding, matching, separating---

Why?
We all get worn, dirty, in need of cleansing.
All gods dress themselves in believers
Only to wear them out
(favorites fastest).
All of us end up in the same rag-bin,
The same second-hand rack,
Sold to a thrift-shopping divinity.

(The cycle begins again.)

Between these bare faces
Of aluminum and clear plexiglass
I sit, awaiting the laundering of my soul.

What rough hands, at a second-hand rack
Await my soul, when at last my time has come?

Reviews

[Autumn Dawn Gorny]

Very well done. This is not just a mournful and/or religious poem but, a poem of hope

[~Wandering Soul~]

i like the two different ways of veiwing it............i think i cant really worry bout what is gonna happen after life until it happens.........why live life worrying bout sumfin that gonna happen anyways?
i like it and found it quite enjoyable
Thanks for sharing
Rach

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

I found this a fasinating read and I think that even though we have different views you represent it well The one point I would make is unconditional love never wear out as you put it and a true believer in God is all about that. Still this is a powerful statement of how life can wear us down or cause doubt in some. nicely done.
Debby

[Whisperer]

Superb! It is a miracle how seemingly mundane events in life can make us so incredibly imaginative and we begin seeing them as new, as different. Revelations come to us without warning and they bring us such immense joy. Much of my poetry is inspired in similar ways...

The crafting of this poem and more so the idea is absolutely brilliant. It shows great skill.

Hope to read more of your work.

[Raven Held]

"All gods dress themselves in believers
Only to wear them out"

This line struck me the most. I'm an atheist, and I suppose you could call me an observer. It is true that religion, despite being an alleged unifying force, seems to be causing discord amongst Men now. In the turmoil that is the product of clashing views and beliefs, does one become purer and more enlightened, or more belligerent and intolerant towards others who do not share theirs?

When beliefs and religion have outgrown their uses and motivation, does one embark on a free fall of religious fundamentalism, abetted - ironically - by the arm of god?

Perhaps these views may be incendiary, and many people might disagree strongly, but like I mentioned, it's just an observation. No offence whatsoever meant.

Thanks for sharing! This is a provocative, stimulating piece, Paden. Nicely done.

Loves,
Raven

[Tara]

I love this. A very creative write. I especially like (the cycle begins again),

[Sean M. Addams]

I thought this flowed well.. and good imagery in this .