Ode To a Dishwasher

In my small kitchen she sits Simple and plain My mechanical maid Who never complains Who takes cups and plates laid On her long arms with ease And returns every one Scrubbed clean of grease Because I am NOT at the sink, wrists plunged in grime I have precious time - and peace of mind - To fashion and design these meandering lines This is the gift she grants -so humble, so grand Yet after decades of duty, she's become tired Sputtering and leaking from weakening wires Like all teachers and nurses, she deserves to retire When I told him it was time to buy A new dishwasher, he said the price was too high I say, the value of my sanity Is worth more than his 200 channels of cable TV (of which he watches only three) Or his mountains of Lego, or toys for his truck For those, he'll happily spend a buck! So dear, after next Saturday's barbeque I'll let you scrape off all the gristle and goo Then maybe you'll appreciate what a dishwasher can do~ 3/01/23