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Open Poetry #18
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Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan

0 posted 2002-02-07 11:25 PM



The Famous Ironing Incident

With my brand new iron, it's teflon soul
I press the clothes, both new and old
I push the button and release the steam
smoothing sleeves, back, collar and in between

trying to get those wrinkles out
these shirts aren't permanent press, no doubt
assailed by memories, as I work
I remember a time when I felt like a jerk

as a brand new bride, lacking ironing skill
the clothes fell victim to overkill
my husband owned just one shirt for dress
it emerged from the dryer, a wrinkled mess

I thought "oh well, he never dresses up"
we were just kids then, not quite grown up
I thought "he won't miss it if I throw it away"
but as fate would have it, on that very day
his favorite uncle passed away

for the funeral, my love had to be well dressed
but his only good shirt was a wrinkled mess
so I took out my iron, intending to press
the wrinkles out, so he could get dressed

he'd wear this shirt with a jacket and tie
on the very hottest day of July
poor guy

after I'd smoothed out some of the wrinkles
I felt so proud, my young eyes twinkled
thinking of how he'd be impressed
that I'd ironed his shirt with such success

but suddenly, there was an awful smell
burning synthetic, I could tell
as I placed the iron down on the ledge
I saw on the shirt's back, a singed brown wedge

he had to wear it anyway
and although it was such a hot day
he couldn't take his jacket off
or, at me...his family would surely scoff

I guarantee this tale is true
but I no longer burn shirts, old or new
but as a new bride, I had no clue

the thirty six years since then have flown
my ironing skills are now full grown




copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

[This message has been edited by Madame Chipmunk (02-07-2002 11:26 PM).]

© Copyright 2002 Lyra Nesius - All Rights Reserved
amusemi
Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262
A State of Disarray
1 posted 2002-02-07 11:36 PM


This is a wonderful story!  I do believe you've perfected poetry as well!  

I must confess I never iron...just throw it in the dryer with a wet rag for a bit and call it good.  That's why I look the way I do, hee hee!


Kat

Victoria
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Member Ascendant
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869

2 posted 2002-02-07 11:49 PM


i send my husbands to the cleaners..ha..this was so cute..lots of newlywed stories ha...i put a turkey in the oven and forgot to turn it on.

               ~Vic

ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state
3 posted 2002-02-07 11:54 PM


I have singed a shirt or two, too..entertaining piece


Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
4 posted 2002-02-08 10:24 AM


Thanks for your reply, Kat...I do that with a lot of my clothes, but there are still a few things that need ironing.  When this incident occurred, 36 yrs ago, there were hardly any permanent press clothes to be had.  That particular shirt was SUPPOSED to be permanent press.  His mother bought it for him, and it was made out of fortrel which is like a synthetic nylon.  I probably put it into the dryer on too high a setting, which is why it came out so wrinkled...oh well.......at least I got a poem out of it!

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
5 posted 2002-02-08 10:28 AM


Victoria, thanks for your reply and your little story about the turkey...what did you end up making for dinner that night?

I once cooked a meatloaf which I had prepared the day before.  I'd put it in the fridge with some saran wrap on top of the pan...and then I put it into the oven, forgetting to remove the saran wrap...it tasted awful, for some reason!

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
6 posted 2002-02-08 10:31 AM


Thanks Martin, I'm glad you enjoyed the poem....You need to send your stuff to the cleaners like Victoria does.

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Magnus
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Member Laureate
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA
7 posted 2002-02-08 02:26 PM


Lyra...you keep me grinning and chuckling
all of the time with your humor....Glad you
have learned how to get it right....I learned
it a long time ago also...

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
8 posted 2002-02-08 02:31 PM


Lyra--The ability to laugh at yourself...keeps you healthy.  Your poem and story are wonderful!
Mistletoe Angel
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Empyrean
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon
9 posted 2002-02-08 05:04 PM




(giggles in delight) Oh my gosh, I hope it all worked out in the end, accidents do happen! (kiss on cheek) We all love you so much, sweet friend, your words always bring a smile to my face! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Lyra, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

Pilgrimage
Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945
Texas, USA
10 posted 2002-02-08 06:16 PM


Dear Lyra,
I remember this one. It's lots of fun now, but I know at the time it wasn't. Oh well, the things we learn as brides.  And I learned quite a few things in the first year of marriage.

Nan

Startime
Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918
Canada
11 posted 2002-02-08 07:24 PM


*giggling* oh my those awful first years when we were trying so hard to be so grown up....*giggling* I just love this poem...the more so because I burned a shirt or two myself. **big hugs**

Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams.

strbbux
Member Elite
since 2001-12-19
Posts 3859

12 posted 2002-02-08 07:30 PM


Hee hee your not the first to do that Lyra, my friend cooked a turkey and forgot to take the innards out...this was really cute, I enjoyed it, gave me a lift today..floria

Floria

"Alas for those that never sing,
But die with all their music in them"
(Oliver Wendell Holmes)

Silver Streak
Member Elite
since 2002-01-02
Posts 3625
FL, USA
13 posted 2002-02-08 07:30 PM


Madame, that is a great story. Yep, had a few of mine burned, too. Thanks!
-newell

Sharing God's Love through perfectlovepoetry.com

Copyright: 2002 Newell Elsworth Usher

icequeen
Senior Member
since 2001-12-09
Posts 633
FL USA
14 posted 2002-02-08 07:43 PM


This is wonderful - really brought me a grin

On the first date with the man I would later marry, I made a meal for him of chicken and yellow rice, salad, green beans and rolls. When I went to the store they were out of the brand of rice I usually buy so I bought something else. I cooked that dang rice for 2 1/2 hours!! It was awful! We had just sat down to eat the salad and beans when a knock came at the door - it was my parents, AND my grandparents come to visit!
My mom learned to call first ha ha ha ha... but I thought for sure it would scare him off, having all those people pop in on our first date AND me being a lousy cook!

...and her crown was formed by the ice in her eyes

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
15 posted 2002-02-08 08:59 PM


Madame - you are a master at writing these. I loved it...

BC

Marsha
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423
Maidstone Kent England
16 posted 2002-02-08 10:02 PM


Lyra darling girl this is soooooooooo fabulous, I positively detest ironing, or as I call it a pain in the ass…. ets, I loved this poem darling girl absolutely loved it

Absolutely first class writing darling girl well done

And Bill is right YOU are a Master at writing these


Love and warm stuff
As always
Mushy


To give light to them that sit in darkness..... to guide our feet into the way of peace St John ch2 v1


Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
17 posted 2002-02-08 11:13 PM


Thanks Barry, Do you really know how to do the laundry?

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
18 posted 2002-02-08 11:24 PM


Martie, Nan and Karen...thanks for your replies...Yes we all tried so hard to be grownups back then, that sometimes it backfired on us....but its really important to laugh at ourselves...and how we were back then...and sometimes to laugh at how we are now too!

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
19 posted 2002-02-08 11:28 PM


Bill and Noah...thanks for your replies...
I love writing this type of poetry because its based on things that have actually happened in my life.

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
20 posted 2002-02-08 11:37 PM


Floria, Ice Queen and Nan...thanks for your replies...Being a new bride is really hard because we are always learning new stuff.
When I first got married, I didn't know a single thing about cooking. The first night I ever cooked dinner for my husband, it took me 3 hours!  Nowadays...I just would have called up the Chinese restaurant and ordered dinner.....but then, I never would have learned how to cook at all....and besides, we couldn't afford it back then!

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
21 posted 2002-02-08 11:40 PM


Marsha...thanks for replying.  Here is a perfect gift for you...An iron with hands, so that it can iron the clothes all by itself without any effort from you.

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
22 posted 2002-02-08 11:43 PM


HAHA, I remember doing that! I threw the shirt away and claimed to have lost it at the laundramat. LOL, I think I own an iron(?), but haven't used it in two years. anyway, today I would just say "I burned the d*** thing, just go buy a new one"
Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
23 posted 2002-02-08 11:55 PM


Thanks for your reply, Kacy.  I guess that I must have gotten lucky.  My husband, David...doesn't mind doing housework or laundry.  But he does so much for me, that I do his laundry because he had to do it himself for so many years, if he wanted clean clothes.....I even iron his shirts.

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Larry C
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286
United States
24 posted 2002-02-10 01:15 PM


Lyra,
I'm thinkin' you're not the Lone Ranger. Just...a funeral? LOL Fond memories. Fun write.

paladin
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Senior Member
since 2001-08-05
Posts 930
Pensacola,Fl.
25 posted 2002-02-11 08:16 PM


I can remember Momma sprinkling clothes,rollong them up and keeping them in the fridge till she had time to iron them.

paladin

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