Today is the first day we have risked the washing line.
The sheets go out first,
pale faced in the morning brightness,
skirts scattering about wind born legs.
The sweaters are more resilient to such weather,
they slouch from their pegs
warming slowly
arms raised like they are reaching
to pin themselves in place.
Caught by their knees, dresses fold over
hang like school children from trees
laughter in their fluttering.
The garden becomes a gathering,
loud in their wet chatter.
Today is the first day we have risked a washing line,
hope goes out first.
Carol J Forrester 
I have this sense of your clothes coming alive with the wind… It is a risk but I hope it’s worth it.
Such beautiful descriptions! I really love how you make them come alive–the pale faces and the slouching.
A poignant ending, too.
Loving the way you weave the title into this lovely poem that evokes the freshness of spring alongside something that tastes of winter’s last bitter bite!
‘Today is the first day we have risked a washing line,
hope goes out first.’ ~ love how you so rightly said that it begins with hope that the washing will dry!
I enjoyed how much life you brought to this picture, beautifully done!
You infused the image with the warmth of hopeful words, and the skills you bring to the task. I do recall my mother hanging clothes in the garage when “outside” was not sn option.
A wonderful poetic interpretation of Monet’s painting. I have no place to hang clothes outdoors, I miss it horribly!
Very imaginative. I like the reaching sweaters and:
“The garden becomes a gathering,
loud in their wet chatter.”
Wonderful take on the painting Carol — excellent!
How vibrant and colorful this is specially with the school children’s laughter. Love your poem!
I could see the bright sun, and hear the wind and the laughter. Well done, Carol.
The clothes came alive in your words, Carol! Such a wonderful take.
I absolutely shriek in delight with your words.
I absolutely love, love this, Carol! Especially; “Caught by their knees, dresses fold over hang like school children from trees laughter in their fluttering.”❤️❤️
Clothes pinning themselves…flush with the stories of their owners…so much life happened around the pinning of clothes to the line…stories kept alive by the movement of the drying shirts…
I can just picture the scene: lovely!