LAUNDRY
by Grace Q. Song
Last night I slept only four hours
and woke up at 6:38 am.
My body felt terrible, almost sick.
I was afraid I had lost control
over all time, and direction, and self,
so I decided to put them back
on the shelf, one book after another.
First I washed my face and moisturized.
I picked up mail and medicine,
then followed directions correctly,
poured detergent and softener
in all the right slots and,
during the whole time, thought,
what am I doing to my life,
I am ruining it,
and so on.
When I fished my clothes out
of the dryer, they were clean,
and normal, and perfect,
and I realized—
this is my life.
It comes every morning
in a bouquet of soft, warm soap
and overflows, like this,
from the rich well of my hands.