First published 12 January 2021
One of the few things I remember from school is ‘The Order of Washing Up’:
Glasses first, clean and bright
knives and forks come next
plates follow on until they’re done
the saucepans finally too
I’ve washed up many times and yet
the order still comes through
Washing up is not a chore
it’s a time to stand and think
of soap and suds and water
and all things in my sink
I hope my pile of washing up
is there for me each day
I never dry, just let it drain
and then I put it all away.
2020
Note today, 22 August 2025: I no longer love having a pile of washing up and am glad to have a dishwasher!
Glad About 