The language of laundry
is told in silence
between neighbors
sometimes in secret,
or a cry for help,
like bedsheets washed
together with lingerie
on a Wednesday in March
may whisper infidelity
while a ripped dress
on Monday morning may
be a hint of bloodstains
in abuse.
Laundry discloses
both pay rise and bankruptcy
better than the gossip,
for anyone
keen enough to see;
it talks in joy and sorrow,
like the sudden death
of a parent exposed
in charcoal,
or marriage and wake
singing in white
laundry may be
a story told on a clothesline
Today Mellissa hosts dVerse poetics with a prompt about the expressionist artis Egon Schielle and we are given a number of pictures to write about.
Schielle who died young from the Spanish flu is mostly known for his paintings of people but in the prompt we are looking at some of his landscapes.
And given the sad news that just came in I had to find some Dolly Parton connection:
August 25, 2026
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I never thought of laundry this way before, Björn.
Now you cannot unsee it, and look for stories in the laundry… my idea came because there are some religious people in Sweden who hides their laundry not to tell about their secrets.
As so often happens, Björn, we chose the same image! I love your language of laundry, especially the ‘cry for help, like bedsheets washed together with lingerie on a Wednesday in March’, so specific and I want to know why on a Wednesday. All the Austrian Hausfrauen I’ve known did their washing on a Monday 😊 And then the hidden violence in the ‘hint of bloodstains’ lends darkness to your poem. A ‘story told on a clothesline’ indeed.
I liked to see what laundry can tell… it is a bit like gossip.
It is too. I remember my grandmother commenting on a neighbour’s washing.
Yes, laundry – aired for the world to see, but viewed with discretion.
Dirty laundry for all to see
Björn, your poem turns a mundane chore into a vivid, window on human vulnerability 🙌
I think laundry can be telling
🙌
“laundry may be
a story told on a clothesline”
luv this line
much love
Thank you
Love the song choice, RIP Dolly. Amazing poem, one of my favorites by you! Excellent job, good sir! 🙏
Thank you … I got the chance of celebratin her life in a concert with Emylou Harris yesterday
Simply beautiful and so well-observed, Björn. The language of the washing line is there for us to read, if only we take the time.
If we dare to sneak as well
The art of laundry tells many stories.
It could…
Oh, wow! This is so good:
“Laundry discloses
both pay rise and bankruptcy
better than the gossip,
for anyone
keen enough to see;”
Yup… those old bedsheets may tell a lot
Love the angle you took on this one Bjorn!
JIM
Thank you
Yes, laundry is a bit like gossip over the fence line, Bjorn…and I like your nod to Dolly Parton.
Indeed, the nod to Dolly was something that I realized I had to do
Oh my, yes, indeed. so much is revealed on the clothesline, if hung out like that to dry. You have a keen eye my friend. One needs to know this. Thanks. I enjoyed reading every word. Blessings
Thank you… I had to think a bit and after a while it came to me.
A very creative take on the painting, Bjorn. Loved the song as well.
whisper infidelity
while a ripped dress
on Monday morning may
be a hint of bloodstains
in abuse.
They certainly tell lots of unsavoury episodes which seem to occur more often in households that may look good! Great lines Bjorn!
Hank
Thank you… laundry might tell stories
This is an interesting concept, Bjorn–laundry as communication.
Wonderful poem Bjorn. Bravo!
I love how you focus in on the tiny details – to explore the bigger ones! Jae
The way your mind works is amazing. How on earth did you find that old Dolly Parton video!
The details in this poem are wonderful. One has to sneak peeks once in a while!
I shall pay far more attention to the neighbour’s line, love the way you create the stories.