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April 20, 2018

Poetry Friday--Ekphrastic April, Day 20: "Wash Day--A Back Yard Reminiscence of Brooklyn"

I was first attracted to this painting for its subject matter--hanging laundry. I grew up in a time before dryers became prolific and laundry was hung on a line to dry. I have fond memories of fragrantly fresh, but stiff, towels, and of mothers gossiping over a fence as they attended to their laundry. Secondly, I was stopped in my tracks by this part of the title: "Reminiscence of Brooklyn." Although I wasn't around in 1912, I didn't think Brooklyn, NY would have looked like that!

I found that the artist, Ada Walter Shulz, was from the Mid-West and spent the greater part of her life in Brown County, Indiana. So, a little research led to a Brooklyn, Indiana, in Morgan County. Morgan County shares a corner with Brown County.


"Wash Day--A Back Yard Reminiscence of Brooklyn" (1912) by Ada Walter Shulz [1870-1928].

wash day

can there be anything
more perfect--

warm sun
soft breezes and
a willing helper


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

National Poetry Month delights abound, visit The Opposite of Indifference where Tabatha is rounding up the poetry links for today. And, if you haven't visited yet, head over to the Team Imperfect blog for its book birthday!

37 comments:

  1. Love the painting and your poem. They evoke fond memories for me too... of sheets popping in the wind and how good they smelled on the bed that night.

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    1. spring spirit...
      sheets pop in the wind
      shirtsleeves wave

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  2. Perfect poem for that picture. I remember hanging laundry as a child too. :)

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  3. What a beautiful painting! I love how you captured the little willing helper in your verse.

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  4. The painting is lovely, and your sweet poem pairs perfectly. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Perfect

    (✿◠‿◠)

    much love...

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  6. Such a good reminder of what life was like in 1912. I'm writing a book set in 1910. I'll have to remember that the laundry was hung somewhere!

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    1. Lots of times, in rural settings, laundry was simply draped over bushes!

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  7. I remember the smell perhaps more than anything. My mother-in-law continued to hang the sheets long after she got a dryer, heavenly smell. Glad you found that "other" Brooklyn, Diane.

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    1. I've got to try to be a little less east-coast-centric!

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  8. Glad you solved the "Brooklyn" mystery! Love your poem. My parents still hang their laundry out on nice days and, when we get a chance, my kids and I are generally "willing helpers." :-)

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    1. They're lucky to be able to do that, nowadays some communities prohibit clotheslines!

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  9. Lovely poem! And that painting is set not too far from where I live now. We're just a few counties over from Brown and Morgan Counties--and it definitely captures the landscape!

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    1. I know nothing about Indiana, but this painting makes it very attractive.

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  10. Love that painting. I can just feel that cool breeze and the smell of that clean laundry! Adorable "willing helper."

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  11. Perfect in every way, Diane! I miss having a clothesline.

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    1. Except for the days when you had to rip the laundry from the line before the clouds opened!

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  12. I love the ritual of hanging out the laundry in the summer. So interesting about the two Brooklyns - worlds apart!

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  13. A beautiful painting. Think of that mother's patience- willing to slow down for a wee helper when there is so much work to be done. You've captured the essence of this mother daughter portrait. I love the fresh smell of line dried laundry!

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    1. Most of us, in a harried hurry, need to slow down to enjoy the moments that make memories.

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  14. Awwwww. Both the painting and the words are better together than apart. Well done.

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    1. I try to think of ephrastic cherita a one-page picture book.

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  15. I love this! The two Brooklyns couldn't be more different!

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  16. The painting and poem combo couldn't be more perfect, Diane. I, too, have fond memories of collecting the wash off our line growing up and then hanging my own on my mother-in-law's line when visiting her in a seaside community. The whites were so much whiter and everything was so fresh. Oh, and the Brooklyn discovery made me giggle!

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    1. This memory just popped in my head: trying to position the clothespins so that there wasn't a telltale pin impression left on the fabric. It was okay on underwear, but on a shirt, not so much.

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  17. I'm enjoying the paintings you've chosen and poems you've written SO much! I've fallen off the commenting bandwagon (this last third of the month is an uphill climb, plus the day job...), but I'm reading, and loving!!

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    1. We are in the same boat. Most days the thought of writing comments on others' blogs, and responding to the ones on Random Noodling, overwhelm me. I often think that there should be no comments allowed! I, too, like to read and leave.

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  18. Diane, while I do love to comment and read comments left on my post, I am finding there is so much reading. Being involved in a full week of providing professional development and two late afternoon sessions has left me depleted so everything seems to take forever. Now getting back to your poem. I adore this painting since it reminds me of my Nonnie washing her clothes in a very old fashioned ringer dryer and then pinning them on her clothesline. I was the little helper. Your poem describes my memory and recalls the fresh scent of cotton drying in the sun. Thank you for a beautifully-crafted poem that brings light to my memory, Diane.

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  19. There can't be
    "anything
    more perfect--"
    than your poem with this painting Diane, they fit like a glove–both gorgeous!

    I thought the painting at first was a Mary Cassatt, with the blue stripes, Mother and child, but I'm happy to learn about Ada Walter Shulz, thanks for introducing her to me!

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