Hamper

A sequel to "Buttons" just more little things

It’s not just a bin for dirty clothes.

It’s a great place to hide where no one goes.

My favorite place for hide and seek.

No one ever dares to take a peak.

 

I could stay in there for a week,

But that’s too long not to speak.

And if I never change my clothes,

My hamper never fills, the pile never grows.

 

My hamper can be a chest for treasure.

With extra socks just for good measure.

Hampers are never quite big enough.

Always too small for all of your stuff.

 

The bigger the hamper the less room they take.

Fill it right up and room you’ll make.

Some hampers are big, some are small.

Some are just piles, some not there at all.

 

Some might have handles, liners or lids.

Some come with gadgets to keep out kids.

Hampers never hamper or get in the way.

They’re used for something each and every day.

 

Mostly an eyesore, mostly unseen.

Hidden in bedrooms, bathrooms or in-between.

They can be baskets or made of wood.

Plastic or metal but a bag’s just as good.

 

Hampers are magic - things disappear.

Then surprise, something old will be there.

A best friend to have on clean-up day.

They help to decide what can and can’t stay.

They can be luggage when away from home.

The smaller they get the further you roam.

Sometime my hamper is what I long to see,

A familiar moonlit shadow that keeps me company.

 

My hamper can be a rocket ship,

There’s always space for a lengthy trip.

Or submarine to explore the sea,

It can be anything; it’s up to me.

 

Some hampers have wheels for delicate dears.

Though not much help on dark cellar stairs.

They can be a target or a catcher’s mitt.

Or a moldy archive for clothes that don’t fit.

 

Sometime it sits lonely, quiet as a mouse.

Sometime screaming loudly - stinking up the house.

My companion always since I was very small.

The stories it could tell, we really had a ball.

 

If you’re sad or a little mad, I’ll share a secret trick.

Visit your trusty hamper and give it a little kick.

My hamper and I put on shows; I hope you all will come.

I sing and dance; make up tunes, my hamper is the drum.

 

Sometimes hampers break, a leaning twisted thing,

Thrown away with no regard to all the joy they bring.

Replaced by a new one with very lofty goals.

Someday we might be friends when it gets some holes.

 

Whether sparse or cramped you need not have a fear,

The voids will always fill when imaginations there.

Oh " I could wax poetically until the end of time.

But hampers full, its laundry day, time to end this rhyme.

Reviews

[Shlomo Ariel]

I am a newbie. I wrote my comments in curly brackets , not knowiing how to write them in a visually better format.

[Shlomo Ariel]

It’s not just a bin for dirty clothes.
It’s a great place to hide where no one goes.
My favorite place for hide and seek.
No one ever dares to take a peak.

{peek}{ The meter and stress patterns should be improved}

I could stay in there for a week,
But that’s too long not to speak.{better not repeat the same pattern of rhyming as in the last to lines of the last stanza. too long not to speak is not the best formulation. My comment about meter and stress pattern applies ot most of the following stanzas too}
And if I never change my clothes,
My hamper never fills, the pile never grows.

My hamper can be a chest for treasure.
With extra socks just for good measure.
Hampers are never quite big enough.
Always too small for all of your stuff.

The bigger the hamper the less room they take.
Fill it right up and room you’ll make.
Some hampers are big, some are small.
Some are just piles, some not there at all.

Some might have handles, liners or lids.
Some come with gadgets to keep out kids.
Hampers never hamper or get in the way.{a nice line}
They’re used for something each and every day.

Mostly an eyesore, {not the best word choice for kids}mostly unseen.
Hidden in bedrooms, bathrooms or in-between.{not a very good rhyme}
They can be baskets or made of wood.
Plastic or metal but a bag’s just as good.

Hampers are magic - things disappear.
Then surprise, something old will be there.
A best friend to have on clean-up day.
They help to decide what can and can’t stay.{This is less from the viewpoint of a child}

They can be luggage when away from home.
The smaller they get the further you roam.{a good rhyme, but roam is not the best word choice}
Sometime my hamper is what I long to see,
A familiar moonlit shadow that keeps me company.{not a rhyme. The idea is good but the wording is not for kids}

My hamper can be a rocket ship,
There’s always space for a lengthy trip.
Or submarine to explore the sea,
It can be anything; it’s up to me.

Some hampers have wheels for delicate dears.
Though not much help on dark cellar stairs.{no rhyme}
They can be a target or a catcher’s mitt.
Or a moldy archive for clothes that don’t fit.

Sometime it sits lonely, quiet as a mouse.
Sometime screaming loudly - stinking up the house.
My companion always since I was very small.
The stories it could tell, we really had a ball.

If you’re sad or a little mad, I’ll share a secret trick.
Visit your trusty hamper and give it a little kick.
My hamper and I put on shows; I hope you all will come.
I sing and dance; make up tunes, my hamper is the drum.

Sometimes hampers break, a leaning twisted thing,
Thrown away with no regard to all the joy they bring.
Replaced by a new one with very lofty goals.{not for kids}
Someday we might be friends when it gets some holes.

Whether sparse or cramped you need not have a fear,
The voids will always fill when imaginations there.
Oh " I could wax poetically until the end of time.
But hampers full, its laundry day, time to end this rhyme.

© 2014 Steve Kittell
{Hi Steve, I like the general idea. Many of your themes do reflect children's interests, especially hiding inside something. What should be imporved: The meter, stress patterns and rhymes, levels of language - some suitable for kids and some to adults - same with contents - some children's and some adults". Worth conitnuing to work on.

[Loulou4u]

Hi Steve,

It's easy to see you haven't lost touch with your magical side. This is creative, adorable and definitely written through the eyes of a child.