Ablutions: The act of washing oneself, often used to refer to the ceremonial washing of the self, from the Latin "ab" and "luere", away and wash. Formerly used in alchemy to denote the process of purification using liquid and evolved to denote the washing of the body. Latterly commandeered by the British army to indicate the building housing washing and toilet facilities.
My Connection: I was seldom told to brush my teeth as a child, and rarer still were entreaties to wash my face, or scrub my neck. Was I a grimy little tyke? Well, often, yes. But show me the pristine child at late afternoon and I will show you the dull day. No, I was not told to brush my teeth or wash my face. I was told to go and do my ablutions. I wonder, now, where this came from. My own parents were of that generation born shortly after the second world war, and both their fathers had served in the British military. Mercifully, both had come back alive. Perhaps my parents too grew up with this, among many, little bit of overspill from military life. I shall have to ask them next time I see them if they performed ablutions as a child as I did. And as my children do. For as the evening approaches each day, I have never called upon them to wash up for bedtime or to visit the bathroom before night night cuddles. No, I stand before them and like the matronly figure bedtime demands of me, I call "Ablutions! Ablutions please babies!" After they are abed, and I am done for the day, I in turn announce to my partner that I am "going to do my ablutions now", and off I trot to slough away the day, my nightly ceremony, as simple as it is, of skin under running water, preparing to meet the night cleansed of the day just done.
Ablutions
Across the coarse and calloused skin
That toiled today, lose or win;
Across this dry, industrious heat,
The energy that surged to meet
The ceaseless needs of pushing on
Even when the will was gone;
Across the creases grimed with dirt,
Some gained in fun, some in hurt;
Across the tendon, across muscle,
Tired from the daily hustle,
The water flows and passes thus,
And without ego, pomp or fuss
It cools and soothes and speaks to me
And tells me, now, to let it be,
To let it go, what has now passed
To turn my mind from futures cast
In runes and tea leaves, in fearful guessing,
To feel instead this moment’s blessing.
About the Creator
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Let's Don't Do This
"I just can't do this anymore..." "Do what?" What can't you do? Put gas in your own car? I swear to God you make me take care of everything, don't you? You know I'm on my way to work right now but that never stops you from bothering me, does it?"
By Shirley Belk7 days ago in Fiction
Comments (22)
I definitely identify with the first part and last part of your description. Its an interesting thing to think about one's own childhood as a child to parent and then one's children's childhood from parent to child. Or, in reverse, one's parents parenting experience from parent to child and one's own parenting extravaganza from parent to child.
soo pure
Brilliant gratitude poem!!! The meter and rhyme were cleansing, soothing, and peaceful. Was unfamiliar with the nightly ablution. Now, I know!
Well deserved win 🤩👍🏼… loved your family’s backstory and of course the poem too. Favourite lines: “Some gained in fun, some in hurt; Across the tendon, across muscle, Tired from the daily hustle,”✅
You made this so compelling to read. I loved finding out about the back story, how one single word could communicate so much of your life, and how you use it not just for instruction but to also soften your approach and bring a sense of fun in the midst of whatever the day might bring. Very well done to you.
I loved this sooo much Hannah!! I think the note on your connection to the word is my favourite because I got to know more about the author! Great work!
This is gorgeous! I almost went with this word, but I certainly couldn't have created such a wonderful piece!
We say this to our kids all the time! "Go and ablute" 😂
Okay. Thought I had commented on this but did a like and dash. This was lovely and like others have said, reads like some kinda mantra. That is also a cool sink!
A lovely poem and a beautiful sink!
I was always told to brush teeth, shower, etc etc. And now I'm a germophobe. It sucks at times, lol. Loved your poem!
Loved the structure, the flow, the rhythm so well done Hannah
New word to me, and a flawless poem. Great entry, Hannah!
This rhyming bliss! And what an intriguing explanation of your connection to the word! An enjoyable read from start to finish!
The catholic religion uses that word for cleansing in a sacrament but I never heard it used in daily speech until I married my wife who is British. Interesting pov Hannah.
A beautiful way of saying that we should live for the moment. And we should. Well done, Hannah.
I love the tradition and spirit of this practice and I loved the poem. Wonderful work, Hannah! Clearly written with love!
But show me the pristine child at late afternoon and I will show you the dull day. What a fantastic poem, Gabriela is spot on, like singing the abs’s to brush for the appropriate time
I was told to wash all 13 parts. No more detail. I still try to configure what exactly counts in this bathing ritual prescribed by my grandmother! Great entry!
I would maybe sing this poem softly while taking a shower, slowly, thoroughly, like a prayer, like a ritual.. this sounds lovely, really!
First I've ever heard that word. I like it, and the poem. Also, is that your sink? Because I love it.
This is great. Like a nightly prayer!