A Washing of Hands
Ted Kooser
You turned on the tap and a silver braid
unraveled over your fingers.
You cupped them, weighing that tassel,
first in one hand and then the other,
then pinched through the threads
as if searching for something, perhaps
an entangled cocklebur of water,
or the seed of a lake. A time or two
you took the tassel in both hands,
squeezed it into a knot, and wrung out
the cold and the light, and then, at the end,
you pulled down hard on it twice,
as if the water were a rope and you were
ringing a bell to call me, two bright rings, though I was there.
for my favorites or those who have me favorited only---
economical use of language-- no epics
no pictures other than those your words paint
hand washing has been done brilliantly-- please find a different ordinary act
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Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on November 18
- Rewards: Gold: 900, Silver: 500, Bronze: 300
- Final notes: what a joy to judge!
no crap in the crowd... thanks everyone!
1. tomisb
2. horus8
3. just mercedes
4. peteskid
Contest Winners
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Sometimes I feel left here by god.• Commented on by judge. [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 5798861, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Entries [11]
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exhaustion of the steam
hints of sage from the hills,by Cannonsfire 21 lines, 8 comments, on Oct 15 4:09 PM• Commented on by judge. -
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Comments
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An excellent example of this type of writing I agree, something that might benefit us all. Very nice...Pk
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hope to find you here
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Temple's Tambour
Continuous tap of fluid stream
Rhythm played on temple’s tambour
Searing crown of tortuous flames
Charring psyche’s flow of reason
Tight rope taut in mortal stem
Stretched to almost breaking
Volcanic force of lava’s flow
Stretching crest in all directions
Can you tell what ordinary event this prewrite of mine describes?
I love Kooser -
hmmm...
don't sound that much different than my contest called
mushrooms -
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neat.
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super coolio
bandito
bleached bloomers
black hat
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What a great prompt, love simplicity made extraordinary. hmmm.
I hope I can think of something.
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Thank you for hosting this extra-ordinary contest, Mary. Congratulations, one and all. Stellar writing dwells upon these pages. Be well, Poets and Scribes. 
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hi thanks for such an original and challenging contest. Congrate to the winners, I really enjoy this one
Erwin
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