Sorting Laundry by Elisavietta Ritchie

Sorting Laundry by Elisavietta Ritchie

 

Of course, I had to keep a closer eye on this poem since I was required to report on it. Sometimes pressure really makes one see the poem though. It took a while for the message of the poem to set in; I had to read the poem a bunch of times although that always seems to be the case. Looking back now, I guess it was a bit silly to match every piece of clothing with a deep abstract reflection on the persona’s or the author’s relationship. Like the “wrinkles / to be smoothed” refered to the bumps in a relationship or the “surprises: forgotten matches, / [and] lost screws” representing the unpredictability of a relationship. I find it strange yet amusing that the persona finds the joy in sorting laundry. Socks remind her of Noah’s Ark and pillowcases still “[hold their] dreams”. And the fact that she does this everyday is just amusing; she must be really happy with their relationship. Then the “….” In line 42 happens and everything changes; I guess sorting laundry is only fun if you have someone to sort it with.