Acorns in the Dryer
Clanking comes from inside of the automatic dryer
Some sort of hollow thumping gets me wondering
Usually, it's loose change from pockets unchecked
Yielding a meager earning for the day’s laundering.
Exciting to find things after the warm spinning stops
Circling, cycling in the monotonous humming appliance
Interesting what-nots, paperclips and hair barrettes
Useless trash, tissue and candy wrappers in alliance
The noise is, on occasion, an avoidable mess
A lipgloss container somehow void of the gloss
After its hot ride leaves reddish-pink splotches
On white t-shirts and underwear now ready to toss.
Wisdom echoes as it tumbles in mid air, heated with potential
Falling from great heights before it settles in on the ground
What is nature’s abundant food becomes a child’s play thing
Something different from the usual but not yet notably profound.
Acorns, the nifty seed nuts that feed rodent squirrels
During the long months of snow and winter's boredom
Break out of the youngest daughter's newly dry pockets
Loosely falling out after taking a warm, wild ride to freedom.
The first potential tree found elicits a line-inducing smile
Across the mouth at the thought of that sweet freckled-face
Such an interesting, whimsical creature who notices everything
Picking up anything that gives chase to wonder and fascinates.
After a while, piles of acorns gather atop the machine
Waiting as time slips away from the busy launderer's grace
She plans their return to the meadow one day, someday
But now only questions their absence from the resting place.
The surprise is the panic that comes alive inside the spirit
Sad eyes welling to the point of escape, releasing tears
Generally, the launderer's character doesn't react this way
Just because some "already misplaced" seedlings disappear.
Upon searching, the launderer discovers the fleeing acorns
In the trash, almost buried, and rescues every last one
Of those capped nuts in the dig and carries them outside,
Flings them into nature's clean air, onto their new grassy home.
The busy launderer wonders and ponders there on the deck,
Where she stands, "why do I take the time to save them?"
Leaving them in the trashcan is a viable option for some
To keep the acorns from being forsaken is mercy's gem.
Further thinking concludes, found acorns serve as reminders
Born of nurturing, brought up with hope, mercy, and love's caress,
A life pours out, becomes empty, gives the acorns a warm, wild ride
Through life as they grow in character, knowledge, and kindness.
Three children, all daughters, the potential trees she bears
The oldest is sensitive, quietly brave, and patient beyond belief
The middle, an empathetic child, is strong-willed while justice-filled
The youngest is a free-spirit and a tender-hearted acorn thief
Encourage the same admiration the youngest feels when she
So carefully plucks those little nuggets from earth's cool floor
Wishing to keep them hidden, to hold onto them a little longer
Yet, once tucked into her pocket, the acorns long for the door.
Unavoidable is the responsibility, the mandate clearly shown
Avoid the automatic setting of life and refrain from neglect
Never let them be unimportant, mistaken for crumbs or trash
Notice and watch, follow the rarely trodden path and connect.
Value is given and assigned by the quality and quantity
Unspoken is the rule of time when bestowed with consent
Relationships require this priceless resource for stability
Imparted freely, time becomes a beloved jewel, well-spent
A long talk on a porch swing, a kiss, a story told with voices
A recipe for chicken soup, a letter, or a bright walk in the city
A mutual cry over a broken heart, a picnic, a game of catch
The cost of love falls to the giver, and time is the commodity.
All that is dearly loved, in time, falls away from the launderer
Into the hands of the careful gardener, who attends to the benefits
Of growth, noting that time possesses incomprehensible value
For truly appreciating acorns before they fall from your pockets.
Clanking comes from inside of the automatic dryer
Some sort of hollow thumping gets me wondering
Usually, it's loose change from pockets unchecked
Yielding a meager earning for the day’s laundering.
Exciting to find things after the warm spinning stops
Circling, cycling in the monotonous humming appliance
Interesting what-nots, paperclips and hair barrettes
Useless trash, tissue and candy wrappers in alliance
The noise is, on occasion, an avoidable mess
A lipgloss container somehow void of the gloss
After its hot ride leaves reddish-pink splotches
On white t-shirts and underwear now ready to toss.
Wisdom echoes as it tumbles in mid air, heated with potential
Falling from great heights before it settles in on the ground
What is nature’s abundant food becomes a child’s play thing
Something different from the usual but not yet notably profound.
Acorns, the nifty seed nuts that feed rodent squirrels
During the long months of snow and winter's boredom
Break out of the youngest daughter's newly dry pockets
Loosely falling out after taking a warm, wild ride to freedom.
The first potential tree found elicits a line-inducing smile
Across the mouth at the thought of that sweet freckled-face
Such an interesting, whimsical creature who notices everything
Picking up anything that gives chase to wonder and fascinates.
After a while, piles of acorns gather atop the machine
Waiting as time slips away from the busy launderer's grace
She plans their return to the meadow one day, someday
But now only questions their absence from the resting place.
The surprise is the panic that comes alive inside the spirit
Sad eyes welling to the point of escape, releasing tears
Generally, the launderer's character doesn't react this way
Just because some "already misplaced" seedlings disappear.
Upon searching, the launderer discovers the fleeing acorns
In the trash, almost buried, and rescues every last one
Of those capped nuts in the dig and carries them outside,
Flings them into nature's clean air, onto their new grassy home.
The busy launderer wonders and ponders there on the deck,
Where she stands, "why do I take the time to save them?"
Leaving them in the trashcan is a viable option for some
To keep the acorns from being forsaken is mercy's gem.
Further thinking concludes, found acorns serve as reminders
Born of nurturing, brought up with hope, mercy, and love's caress,
A life pours out, becomes empty, gives the acorns a warm, wild ride
Through life as they grow in character, knowledge, and kindness.
Three children, all daughters, the potential trees she bears
The oldest is sensitive, quietly brave, and patient beyond belief
The middle, an empathetic child, is strong-willed while justice-filled
The youngest is a free-spirit and a tender-hearted acorn thief
Encourage the same admiration the youngest feels when she
So carefully plucks those little nuggets from earth's cool floor
Wishing to keep them hidden, to hold onto them a little longer
Yet, once tucked into her pocket, the acorns long for the door.
Unavoidable is the responsibility, the mandate clearly shown
Avoid the automatic setting of life and refrain from neglect
Never let them be unimportant, mistaken for crumbs or trash
Notice and watch, follow the rarely trodden path and connect.
Value is given and assigned by the quality and quantity
Unspoken is the rule of time when bestowed with consent
Relationships require this priceless resource for stability
Imparted freely, time becomes a beloved jewel, well-spent
A long talk on a porch swing, a kiss, a story told with voices
A recipe for chicken soup, a letter, or a bright walk in the city
A mutual cry over a broken heart, a picnic, a game of catch
The cost of love falls to the giver, and time is the commodity.
All that is dearly loved, in time, falls away from the launderer
Into the hands of the careful gardener, who attends to the benefits
Of growth, noting that time possesses incomprehensible value
For truly appreciating acorns before they fall from your pockets.
