“Ironing”

I wish I could iron out   

         the wrinkles of my life   

                     Use a little heat   

                     Apply a little pressure   

         to smooth out the imperfections of my day   

              neaten up cuffs and collars and puckering button holes   

                                the little irritations   

                                             gone   

                                                         with a touch of heat   

                                                                     a little attention   

But   

         Those Natural Cottons   

                     long forgotten in the dryer   

                                 Require more heat   

                                 Demand steam and starch   

                                             Pressure   

                                                         to reach perfection   

And I always get burned   

Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman