Dirty Linen

Some things stay in the bedroom!

There are no clean sheets

in my mind,

only those soiled

and used

and overused.

 

Those once pristine,

virgin white

soft cotton coverings,

placed upon my bed

to soothe my skin

and provide comfort

as slumber approaches

or knees and elbows

vie for grip

in the throws

of passion,

are now off-white,

stained with the

shadows of

spilled blood,

and the salty sweat

and juices of many

sensual and erotic

skirmishes.

 

They bear testament

to many encounters

with both the devil

and the angels

of heaven.

They show signs

of wear as heels

have pressed deep

and bodies twisted

and crumpled and tangled

each carefully ironed

thread.

 

And there they will lie,

there they will remain,

for I will never

wash my dirty linen

in public.

 

24/06/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

Yes dirty laundry best left out of sight. Airing it in public is so indiscreet and just looks like sour grapes in many cases. You convey that so well in this free verse and your final stanza, just as it should be.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Chris has sheets on my mind yesterday lol. Bed linen day is normally Thursday!

[Chris Shaw]

Good to be thinking about clean sheets :))

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Someone should invent self cleaning bed linen!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we often are embarrassed by things that are very normal parts of life...we don't want others to see or talk about them..and yet...everyone has the same laundry...and most hang it out to dry...others know.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed true Jacob. We often think we are the only ones. Many thanks.

[John the Baptist]

The good thing about sheets in the mind is you never have to change them. Very descriptive, especially in the 2nd and 3rd stanzas. Could almost see the scenes. You might want to do a spell check on the last word of line 7, stanza 3.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so JTB. Good spot, sloppy editing. Many thanks.

[Edie Blue Starfish]

As it should be. Dirty laundry should never be put on display. Well said.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Edie.