Bathtub
Bathtub is the perfect place
wash your elbows, hair and face
When the shower lever’s on
grit and sweat are quickly gone
You could also use your tub
wash your puppy or your cub
Fill with water and it floats
fleet of origami boats
Giant vat for washing blinds
stamping grapes and making wine
Soak your dirty pots and dishes
Make a home for tropic fishes
When you know without a doubt
bathtub’s wrecked and all worn out
trash truck loads it with a thump
takes it to the local dump
for retired tub retool
mouse’s rink or swimming pool
– Violet Nesdoly
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I wrote this poem a few years ago in response to a writing prompt. It’s fun to compose ode-like verses about objects. I was going to do a whole series, but never got past writing three or four. (Oh well, at least I have those few!)
This poem is submitted to Poetry Friday, hosted this week by the lovely Betsy at Teaching Young Writers. Oops a correction… hosted by the über-talented Amy at The Poem Farm.
Violet Nesdoly / poems 
Mama Zen
November 30, 2012 at 5:54 am
This is so fun! Great piece.
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mattforrest
November 30, 2012 at 6:01 am
Nice! I like the fact that even when it’s no longer useful…it’s still useful!
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vnesdoly
November 30, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Thanks Matt! Most things never become completely useless do they… if only we use our imaginations.
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jama
November 30, 2012 at 9:06 am
What a fun poem! I might need to stomp some grapes this weekend. That sofa is too cool :).
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vnesdoly
November 30, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Thanks Jama. I love that tub-sofa too. I photographed it through a shop window on a street in Vancouver.
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joyacey
November 30, 2012 at 9:31 am
Violet, This is so much fun. Excellent skill and craft-womanship. What were the other two ode-like poems you wrote? Are they posted somewhere on your blog? Would you like us to make other suggestions for topics? I think a book of ode-like poems could be lots of fun for children. Thank you for sharing this poem.
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vnesdoly
November 30, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Thanks Joy! I love your “craft-womanship” *grin.* Maybe ‘ode’ is too specific a word for the types of poems that came of my attempts.
Other ones I’ve written are about a: metronome, plasticine and a staple remover.
Sure, I’d rise to the challenge of more suggestions!
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Susan Taylor Brown
November 30, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Love this one, Violet. I am a big fan of tubs for many things. I do think you should resurrect your idea of a series of ode poems.
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vnesdoly
November 30, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Thank you Susan! Maybe you’d like to expand on more uses for the lowly tub. And more ode poems might be fun 🙂
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Linda Baie (@LBaie)
November 30, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Very fun, & you’re right, it is great to write an ode now & then. I like the clever ideas, & have used most of them too, except the sofa. Thanks, Violet
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vnesdoly
November 30, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Thanks, Linda. I have not stomped grapes or soaked pots and pans in my bathtub, but I have washed my blinds in it!
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izatrapani1
December 1, 2012 at 4:42 am
Fun poem, Violet!
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Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
December 1, 2012 at 9:03 pm
I just want to keep saying “retired tub retool” over and over again! Yes, bathtubs and everything lives on in some way. Your poem celebrates this so perfectly. And great fun to read! Thank you! a.
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