Poetry is pure white.
It emerges from water covered with drops,
is wrinkled, all in a heap.
It has to be spread out, the skin of this planet,
has to be ironed out, the sea’s whiteness;
and the hands keep moving, moving,
the holy surfaces are smoothed out,
and that is how things are accomplished.
Every day, hands are creating the world,
fire is married to steel,
and canvas, linen, and cotton come back
from the skirmishings of the laundries,
and out of light a dove is born –
pure innocence returns out of the swirl.
—
–in praise of ironing by Pablo Neruda, translated by Alastair Reid
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
My iron is at the bottom of linen press, I can’t remember the last time I used the “thing”…..
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I don’t even have one anymore )
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Wow, I thought I was the only who didn’t iron….
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It’s the first I have read something in praise of ironing. Good 👍
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I really don’t iron, myself, but I loved this little one ironing, and I loved Neruda’s poem
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I used to love it when I could stand for ages, but not anymore.
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I’ve never been a fan )
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None for me )
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😃🥰
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Those little hands…ironing out the world.
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that’s it!
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I just can’t praise ironing…ever….
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)))
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I have to say the title made me smile before I got round to reading the post. Like yourself and others I view them with suspicion and avoid all interaction if I can
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No ironing for me!)
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Press on, beth!
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Flat out!
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😄😄😂
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🙂 !
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❤️
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Very nice piece. But I tend to embrace the wrinkles and laugh
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I am the same )
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You helped me get the wrinkles out of my thoughts of the moment, Beth.
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Ha, thanks!
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is there anything a poet can’t make sound wonderful?
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Oh, you are so very right, jim
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I love to wash dishes. I have a sense of pride to take something dirty and make it clean. I tell you that because I HATE IRONING.
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I do not iron! Just love Neruda and his words. I love to wash dishes too, but hate to dry them)
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Yes, the words were beautiful indeed
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I let dishes drain…no drying needed
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same here )
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Good!
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Loved this…
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Thanks, june
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what is ironing and where is my iron? I do not recall!
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I don’t iron and don’t own one )
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One has to wonder if Neruda ever ironed himself or only watched it performed by others… after hour 2 of it, I think he’d write a different poem 😉
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An excellent question
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One of my least favorite tasks in the world… And yet you make it sound like the more satisfying, restorative endeavor in the house!
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Pablo can do that
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Hate it but still do it when clothes are wrinkled.
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I just cannot bring myself to do it, but now you only have to think of the poem to kick it up a notch. some people say the act is meditative.
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Personally, I hate ironing, but I did iron a tablecloth last evening, as I have a friend coming for Sunday lunch!! I do like a nicely prepared table now and again, and he’s providing a nice bottle of claret to go with the lamb, so I thought a bit of effort wouldn’t go amiss!!
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might be worth it in special cases )
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Yep!
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Whoever thought ironing could be expressed so beautifully. Well done Beth 😄
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He is an an amazing wordsmith
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I have to show this to my wife. Perhaps she can find some inspiration and dust off that iron. 🙄
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Ha!
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Amazing poem. Thanks for sharing
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He was a magical wordsmith
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