Laundramat Love

It was economics really, at least at the start

I fumbled humbly in my pockets for change

Eyed the soggy mass, garments wadded in wet

And came to cold reality

And you, quiet, unsure, cautious

How could one respond?

Is it even appropriate for strangers?

But still, somewhere, in your deep well of answers

Yes stopped by and stayed

And so we watched

Colors tumbling, turning, twisting, gyrating

Your blouse, unbuttoned, free flowing, flung open

Arms extended to embrace

My shirt, my pants, unmentionables of all sorts

Dancing in the heat of the moment, a flash of this, that, unstoppable

Flung in reckless abandon,

We hardly spoke, just watched

Smiled now and then awkward shyness

Our clothes taking risks while we remained still

We unloaded quietly, stopping only to exchange some article

Or static connected sock, got in the wrong hands

We handled our separate containers,

Your wicker handbasket, my paper bag

And said goodbye

The whole affair was thrifty economically

But it was never cheap