Clothespins

Years ago, in Holland,
In a cool, eclectic store,
I bought a set of clothespins
To jazz up my home décor.

Of brightly colored wood
And smaller than the average size,
I pictured them with photos
Hanging like a sweet surprise.

My plan did fizzle like
The best-laid ones of mice and men.
I tucked those clothespins where
I haven’t seen them since back then.

Until I started washing
All my laundry in the sink
And hung a make-shift clothesline
Using – well, what do you think?

My cheerful little clothespins,
Which have waited all this time
To be used as they were meant to
And immortalized in rhyme.