Through The Wringer

As post wartime shortages eased
the old wringer agitator washing
machine bought second hand
from friends gave welcome
release from the early morning
wash day constraints of the
copper’s demands for water, for
fire underneath burning steadily
to boil the washing water after a
lucky inheritance brought also
a hot water tap to the wash tubs.

Relief from the clothes pole’s
weighty lifting of hot dripping
sheets towels clothes from copper
into cold water tub through the
wringer into the cold rinse tub.

The washing machine with its
moveable wringer and the rubber
glove, housewives’ friend,
allowed easier movement from
hot soapy water to cold rinsing
water to laundry basket to
outside clothes lines strung
across the back yard.

Some housewives occasionally
even found time for their own
creativity, usually practical crafts.