A Rumpled Thing Left Out to Dry

 

Image by Kranich17 from Pixabay

and now, introducing me

when you look at this rumpled old thing

just what is it that you see?

I've spent an entire lifetime

trying to iron myself out

and I claim that I'm almost there

but the truth be told

I feel like I was left 

for too long in the spin cycle

I try to tumble dry

the tears from my eyes

as I realize

that I still haven't managed

to warm up to myself

I emerge from each battle with me 

dizzy and covered in dryer fuzz

although I have a big body

I mostly feel mighty small

I know people don't care for bulky me

the way they do for silky bits of finery

folks think it's perfectly acceptable

to snub those who look like me

they tell me I'm carrying too big a front load

and I have too much junk in my trunk

when I try to think about me neutrally

I know that I have a good quality or two

I'm an easygoing cuss

a wash and wear kind of gal

I'm definitely not one of your fine delicates

one of those dainty damsels 

that dashing heroes like to pick up

like a lace hanky dropped on the floor

ladies whose unlined faces

appear to be permanent press

so long as you machine wash warm

and dry flat

but as these downy chicks

tumbled by life's tide

become wrinkled 

they are folded up and put aside

it isn't that the fellows

won't take a tumble with me

it's just that they think of gals like me

as a pre-soak

a warm-up for the dainty delicates

that they drape from their muscular arms

to accessorize their designer suits

when they go out on the town

a pretty little accessory

that they can fluff and fold

and tuck away in a drawer

until they're ready to use her again

I decided to rinse my hands of men

who cycle through women's lives

with all the tenderness of a tropical storm

I don't want to be kept

hanging on the line

with clothespins or lies

waiting for the prairie wind to dry my tears

~cie~

Prompts 

April PAD Challenge

Countdown Day 2: Write an "almost" poem.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2021-april-pad-challenge-countdown-t-minus-2

Countdown Day 1: Write a warm-up poem.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2021-april-pad-challenge-countdown-t-minus-1

PAD Challenge Day 1: Write an introduction poem

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/2021-april-pad-challenge-day-1

D'verse Poets

https://dversepoets.com/2021/03/30/poetics-put-your-words-on-spin-cycle/

D'verse Words

fluff & fold

spin cycle 

permanent press 

wash & wear

cycle 

dryer fuzz 

machine wash warm 

tumble dry 

dry flat 

presoak 

wrinkled 

front load

rinse 

fine delicates 

clothes pins

downy

tide 

NaPoWriMo

Day 1: See the world in a new way

https://www.napowrimo.net/day-one-3/

I did not expect to metaphorically be comparing myself to laundry, but here we are.

The Icky, Sticky, Nit-Picky Legalese If You Please (Or Don't Please)

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