Washerwoman

2/12/2013

The German poet Chamisso

Who lived two hundred years ago,
Philosophized about a woman
Who scrubbed and washed his dirty shirts.

He wrote that she had silver hair.

(Of course he meant the hair was white)
He said she had three healthy kids,
But widowed brought them up alone.

And yet she always smiled and proved

That faith in God and love of duty
Suffice to keep you on your feet
When you are over seventy.
 
I do present this poetry
To you who does my shirts and socks.
Your hair not silver, and you use
Machines unknown to Chamisso.
 
And you are nowhere near seventy!