Laundrying Hope – Poem by Ali Grimshaw

~ Ali Grimshaw 
It gets dirty over time
soiled by history, upturned endings, 
unexpected overflows into tomorrow.
Stains of resentment, practiced disbelief,
and heartbreak headlines get into the fabric.
It loses it's luster with living.

Launder your hope often
with practice you will begin to notice
when it's time for cleansing 
a cycle of care
soaps of forgiveness scented 
rinsing of kindness 
freeing the unneeded past
in a small, generous bucket.

Let it line dry
on its own sunlight time 
without watching your clock 
returning to softness, colors revealed 
by evening's renewable breeze.

And now I wonder why
there isn't a small label with clear directions
for it's care?

What information could be more important 
to keep your heart open?

© Ali Grimshaw 2023

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45 thoughts on “Laundrying Hope – Poem by Ali Grimshaw”

  3. This is such a beautiful uplifting poem ❤ A pleasure to read. My favourite lines:

    "upturned endings,
    unexpected overflows into tomorrow."

    "Let it line dry
    on its own sunlight time
    without watching your clock
    returning to softness, colors revealed
    by evening's renewable breeze."

    And love the question at the end 🙂

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  5. As we say at earthweal, the grief is real, but so is the hope. Hope is the far more difficult part, it’s easy lost in all the toxicity of the time. Freshening hope is the discipline then, and your daily method — “soaps of forgiveness scented / rinsing of kindness / freeing the unneeded past / in a small, generous bucket” — is perfectly put in this poem. Thanks. We might share our grief, but hope is the gift we give to others. It makes things shine. Thanks Ali.

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  6. Wow, Ali!! This poem is so amazing!! I think this needs to go in your top 10 list or maybe you’ve gotten to a top 50 list?? This was an awesome read. I was loving all of it – especially, your opening stanza! Making hope a fabric or garment was brilliant. Loved the alliteration and the imagery. Stunning, simply stunning!!

    Would you be so kind to those of us who love your writing, and please, please record an audio of you reading this?? Please??

    So loved this stanza!!

    It gets dirty over time
    soiled by history, upturned endings,
    unexpected overflows into tomorrow.
    Stains of resentment, practiced disbelief,
    and heartbreak headlines get into the fabric.
    It loses it’s luster with living.

    Bellissimo, Ali, Bellissimo!!
    Chuck
    😊💖💕🌹

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      1. Don’t be shy or intimidated! There are videos/instructions etc. on Youtube!

        You might contact “The Faded Romantic’s Notebook”. He records a lot of his poems and I’m sure he can offer some help and pointers for you!!!
        😊💕🌹

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  7. I love the premise in this poem – that we need to launder our hope, remember to keep our hearts open to all the good stuff that is still here. Wonderful!

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  8. “Stains of resentment, practiced disbelief,
    and heartbreak headlines get into the fabric.
    It loses it’s luster with living.”
    And I love that renewal is possible. We have to learn care person to person, that’s why there is no label. It’s one of the things we cannot do alone. Beautiful poem.

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  14. This is absolutely stellar writing here, Ali! I love this part; “Launder your hope often with practice,”… sigh .. I definitely will, my friend. 💖💖💖

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  18. I can even smell that fresh scent coming off your verses! Hope does need special care and the water imagery makes me think of baptism a bit, there’s that need to cleanse and really, it’s a necessary ritual. Self-care is so important! 💯

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