Of all of the poems we read this year, I have most enjoyed Elisavietta Ritchie’s “Sorting Laundry.” Ritchie’s listing of mundane household items intrigues me as she manages to clearly describe the speaker’s emotions and feelings through detailing the speaker’s actions and detritus while folding laundry. I appreciated this poem because I felt that I had the ability to relate to the speaker. Often, while completing the essentially mindless task of doing laundry, I catch myself thinking of the future, which in turn generates a small degree of anxiety. Like the speaker in Ritchie’s poem, I contemplate relationships and the future. While folding my parents’ clothes, I think about leaving my family and starting a new life at college and, like Ritchie, I become slightly apprehensive and nostalgic. Before reading this poem, "I would never have thought that" sorting and folding laundry could trigger memories and elicit so many emotions, but now I realize that sorting laundry often has this effect on me as well (Lahiri 138). As Ritchie concludes the poem, the speaker notes that even "a mountain of unsorted wash/could not fill/the empty side of the bed" (Ritchie 49-51). This vivid depiction of loneliness and dependence caught my attention as "It is an impulse…[I] have never felt, this need to be so [close to] things," to people (Lahiri 155). After reading this poem, I realized that at times, I have definitely taken many people in my life for granted. I have never really contemplated the idea of one day waking up and hearing that my parents or my close friends are no longer alive; '"That’s so depressing"' (Lahiri 138). I have begun to cherish each day I have with my family and friends as I have realized, like the speaker in Ritchie’s poem, that it could be the last. Predicting when someone will enter or leave your life is as unpredictable as death, so, I must appreciate the time I have with those I care about most. Ritchie’s poem, through its uniqueness, its vivid portrayal of emotions, and its life lessons, has caused me to consider it my favorite poem we read in AP English 12. Thursday, April 21, 2011
Nostalgia and Anticipation in the Laundry Room
Of all of the poems we read this year, I have most enjoyed Elisavietta Ritchie’s “Sorting Laundry.” Ritchie’s listing of mundane household items intrigues me as she manages to clearly describe the speaker’s emotions and feelings through detailing the speaker’s actions and detritus while folding laundry. I appreciated this poem because I felt that I had the ability to relate to the speaker. Often, while completing the essentially mindless task of doing laundry, I catch myself thinking of the future, which in turn generates a small degree of anxiety. Like the speaker in Ritchie’s poem, I contemplate relationships and the future. While folding my parents’ clothes, I think about leaving my family and starting a new life at college and, like Ritchie, I become slightly apprehensive and nostalgic. Before reading this poem, "I would never have thought that" sorting and folding laundry could trigger memories and elicit so many emotions, but now I realize that sorting laundry often has this effect on me as well (Lahiri 138). As Ritchie concludes the poem, the speaker notes that even "a mountain of unsorted wash/could not fill/the empty side of the bed" (Ritchie 49-51). This vivid depiction of loneliness and dependence caught my attention as "It is an impulse…[I] have never felt, this need to be so [close to] things," to people (Lahiri 155). After reading this poem, I realized that at times, I have definitely taken many people in my life for granted. I have never really contemplated the idea of one day waking up and hearing that my parents or my close friends are no longer alive; '"That’s so depressing"' (Lahiri 138). I have begun to cherish each day I have with my family and friends as I have realized, like the speaker in Ritchie’s poem, that it could be the last. Predicting when someone will enter or leave your life is as unpredictable as death, so, I must appreciate the time I have with those I care about most. Ritchie’s poem, through its uniqueness, its vivid portrayal of emotions, and its life lessons, has caused me to consider it my favorite poem we read in AP English 12. 
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Emily, first of all I love the all-blue theme, especially how your picture for this post ties into that. Moving on, I definitely agree that this poem made me think about my future in college. It probably didn't when we read it, but looking back I have a lot in common with the speaker. The deaths of the speaker's family is much like the distance that will separate me from my family when I leave for college.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I too enjoyed this poem. I found it quite interesting that you choose to link this poem to The Namesake. I had never though about the implications of taking for granted those around us when reading this poem for the first time. I too find myself looking into my future when preforming this mundane task during the week.
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