---

Edgar Lee Masters - Mrs. Kessler
Work rating: Low

Mr Kessler, you know, was in the army, 
And he drew six dollars a month as a pension, 
And stood on the corner talking politics, 
Or sat at home reading Grant`s Memoirs; 
And I supported the family by washing, 
Learning the secrets of all the people 
From their curtains, counterpanes, shirts and skirts. 
For things that are new grow old at length, 
They`re replaced with better or none at all: 
People are prospering or falling back. 
And rents and patches widen with time; 
No thread or needle can pace decay, 
And there are stains that baffle soap, 
And there are colors that run in spite of you, 
Blamed though you are for spoiling a dress. 
Handkerchieds, napery, have their secrets— 
The laundress, Life, knows all about it. 
And I, who went to all the funerals 
Held in Spoon River, swear I never 
Saw a dead face without thinking it looked 
Like something washed and ironed.
Source
The script ran 0.001 seconds.