Just a little something about me that you never knew! This is one of those poems that wrote itself while I was in the midst of the task. Besides the sensory joys of ironing pillowcases, I also love the feeling that in some small way I can bring order to chaos, which is why I also love raking leaves and shoveling snow.
Robyn has this week’s Poetry Friday roundup at Life on the Deckle Edge.
A(nother) Year of Reading 
Love this, Mary Lee! Your poem immediately brought to mind the smells associated with watching my mother iron. When I was old enough to help, I loved doing pillowcases – so straightforward. I Don’t do much ironing anymore, but I appreciate the memories your poem offers.
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Such an evocative poem – I could smell the scents of hot, ironed cotton while reading your poem!
Thanks for sharing it today!
(I share the love of simple tasks that make me feel like I’m bringing order to my world 😉
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You’ve talked me into it, Mary Lee! (I’m all for bringing order to chaos!)
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Keeping my hands busy with repetitive tasks like chopping vegetables for soup, hanging laundry on the line, or even ironing is a good way to open my mind to inspiration, I’ve found–and all ways of bringing order to chaos as well. I love the sensory details you include.
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If it helps order. . . I love shoveling & raking, though! I first ironed pillowcases, and you’ve reminded me of that lovely smell!
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It’s the scent and sound that get me…that utter freshness from ironing. Perfectly written.
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I don’t like to iron, but now that you call attention to it, I DO like that smell! Heat applied to cotton is so comforting.
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I definitely get why you iron pillow cases, rake leaves, and shovel show. It must be especially nice to sleep on a newly ironed pillow case, so you are rewarded for your efforts and I can almost smell the bleach.
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Mary Lee, I love learning that sweet fact about you. Ironing pillowcases. Wow! I don’t think I have ever ironed one in my life, but I do enjoy the “puffs of steam” that come from ironing. Here’s to doing small things to make order in chaos!
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I haven’t ironed in quite a while, but your words brought up such a strong sensory memory. I like the thought of you composing those short lines while moving the iron back and forth. And I’m a fan of short poems with long titles like this one!
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Yes to bringing order from chaos! It’s why when things are bananas in my life, I’ll reorganize a closet!
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There is great joy in these simple activities – and great peace. Enjoy, Mary Lee!
And thank you for the postcard. It arrived and is pinned right above my writing desk, where I need reminders that I can do hard things. 🙂
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So interesting to think that raking, shoveling, and ironing are ways to bring order to chaos (the first two I do, the third I avoid.) That smell brings my mother, who was an ironer, to mind.
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Mary Lee, I never thought about the smell coming from ironing but I do like the puffs of steam. I will have to pay more attention when I finally get to the ironing chore.
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Let me fire up my iron and flatten f*ing you-know-who today…
SORRY–I mean smooth the wrinkles at the edges of my polka dot napkins!
Interesting though…I think of a new layer of snow as order, on the the order of snowy white linens, not chaos.
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Love the old iron image and you’ve awakened my olfactory senses, thanks!
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This makes me think of my mother and reminds me of my grandmother, too – such beauty and grace in a slow, heavy task. Thanks, Mary Lee!
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Hi Mary Lee… I’m late, but loving this little ode to ironing pillow cases. Yes! Ironing is calming, quiet, and as you said, brings order to chaos in a manageable way. When I was very young I was given an iron that really heated, and when my mother ironed, I ironed… Daddy’s hankies and pillow cases. Shocking !!! Haha.
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