Long-Lasting Laundry

On Saturdays, I do laundry.
But before I put T- Shirts,
socks, and underwear in the clothes
washer, I turn them inside out.
I’m told that that’s how I can make
them last longer: the colors will
remain more vibrant.

On other days, I write poetry.
But before I save my thoughts, words
and phrases on the computer,
I turn them inside out.
I’ve learned that that’s how I can make
them last longer, too.

I grab each word by its collar,
I spin each phrase around,
I flip each idea over and over,
to ensure my poems, like my
laundry, will come out much cleaner,
brighter and well folded.