a load of laundry

i set

my bag of laundry

on the floor

beside my boots and wait

for a washing machine

to free up.

i have a sack of quarters,

and a book

to read.

there's an older woman

filling up

one of the machines with

her clothes.

red blouses,

pink,

blue flowered summer

dresses.

torn jeans with rhinestones.

various shapes and sizes

of underwear,

some with ribbons attached

and bows.

the names of the week

embroidered in.

i try not to stare, but i do.

so much

being said,

by a load of laundry

and soap

going round and round.