Pattern of Days

Somehow,
I do not feel like painting fairy colors
On canvases today
But need the firm and earthy touch
That homier tasks can give.
And so, with true housewifely zeal
I’ll vacuum, sew and dust
And scrub the kitchen as I must.

Sometimes It’s quite
The other way,
And I must find
Escape from daily rounds
that bring monotony.
‘Tis then,
with paint brush wand
My spirit sails exultant in the clouds
And I am free from all
The petty worries of the world.

Two patterns make my life complete:
The joy of serving willingly
From dawn to dusk,
To raise a family worthy of
A sacred trust—
And then,
Occasional retreat
Within the walls of make-believe
To give my spirit fresh release
And fit me for life’s changing needs.

Dorothy Smith Clark
30 June, 1944