Laundromat

the East End laundromat is spacious

and relatively new. 

there must be 30 pairs of washers and dryers

and 2 big long folding tables

plus a dozen rolling metal baskets

for moving the clothes around

it's a pleasant place --

white walls, lots of light

plastic chairs to sit in while you wait

a TV tuned in to the local news station

even better, the machines all work

(including the change machine)

and they don't swallow your quarters!

usually half a dozen island women

and one or two men are busily engaged

in folding clothes and sitting around

and making conversation

they’re invariably kind

and helpful to outsiders like me

now that I've joined the ranks of those

who don't have a washer dryer

I appreciate all these niceties

I whiled away a leisurely hour or two of my birthday

reading a book and listening to the locals talk

while I watched my t-shirts and towels spin

a young woman who teaches at the island culinary school

was happy to use up my extra dryer minutes

- thursday 18 november

ordinary time 2015

East End, Tortola, BVI