Wash Day

By Phyllis Beebe

The washing machine broke down today
The miserable, modern, electric toy!
I think I'll go and find a stream
To do my laundry by.
With swift running water to dip things in,
And rocks to pound them on
To worry out the spots, and then
Spread them on the ground
To whiten in the sunlight
And sweeten in the air
While I bathe in the water
And wash my long, black hair.