Girl Without Soap
by Miriam Ulinover
And as I sit so desolate
worn out by poverty,
the inspiration came to me
to create a song of need. –
Heavy is my shirt with worries,
one has to do the wash
the weave’s becoming yellowed
(close to _________________)
It bends my brain with worry
and presses like a canker.
If only the storekeeper
would give me soap on credit
No, he did not give it!
Stiff as starch he was!
Just for my pretty dark eyes
he does not give any soap
I am estranged from fresh white wash
my laundry’s gray with dirt.
Though my body longs to sing
the song of a fresh clean shirt.