Poetry

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In a village known as Washingtown
Where the washing people lived
There was a trusty old machine named Wally
He once had been the King of Wash
His whites were always whiter
He left his clothes much cleaner
And his colours much much brighter

The twin tubs and top-loaders
Were a somewhat mixed up bunch
The jobs they did and their results would vary
Some soaked and rinsed ad nauseum
Their clothes were white and shiny
While others would complain and moan
In short they were just whiney

Wally was without a doubt
The best amongst the best
And encouraged others to achieve the same
Some took his challenge and excelled
While others let him take their load
But Wally he just soaked it up
With every dirty load

But then a fateful day arrived
The diagnosis was severe
Wally’s future coming down to some tough choices
His makers warranty had passed
And tho’ the manufacturer he trusted
The truth could not be put aside
His lid was badly rusted

He cycled through his options once
Should he continue with the wash
Or protect his vested interest save his lid
So Wally prayed a washing prayer
His aspirations on the line
He prayed the rain would stay away
And prayed the sun would shine

A heavy load on Wallys mind
And feeling agitated
Still his prewash always kept the gentle cycle
He did not stress his delicates
His pulse was steady still
He never warmed his woolens
Or overdid his fill

The others scoffed at Wallys work
“You’ll kick the washing bucket”
“For all your toil you know they’ll soil again”
And as they dyed the whites bright pink
Or hid half a pair of socks
They gave no thought to those asleep
As they rattled off their blocks


Wally could not share the cynics’ load
Nor understand their views
He’d continue with his very best at least
He would not let his standards slip
He would always play his part
Not a simple case of duty
He was washing from the heart

His maker saw his faithfulness
His willingness to spin
He never ever shirked the full-rinse cycle
That faithfulness would bring reward
The thought more than the action
And so a new lid was dispatched
The makers satisfaction

Wally’s friends who had stuck by
Celebrated his new lid
Wally was complete again, their hero
Still Wally remained humble
Any pride he quickly squashed
“The moral” Wally said “was Trust”
“It will come out in the wash”

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