Laundry Day

the sheets on the line
steam in winter sun
swayback nags
I've not beaten them on rocks
or lifted them hot
with bleached wood tongs
from the copper
into spin
or from one side
to its twin
and watched the grey water gurgle
from a corrugated tube
my washing's simple
load, set, it's done
I just peg and wait
don't even press anything
no goffering
don't scrub my front step
or the yard
with copper water
just wait
I have it easy sitting here
thinking how the sheets
steam like horses