Lyric

I rinsed the plate twice

Then set it in the rack

The edge faced upward

With bubbles still there

My thumb found them first

Before my eyes did

A slick little line

Near the white rim

I stood by the faucet

With wet sleeves

And one clean task

Turning back around

Soap Left in the Dish

After I called it done

One small thing

Asking for more

Soap Left in the Dish

On the edge of the plate

I picked it back up

And started again

The sponge sat folded

In its own water

Green side down

Yellow side tired

I pressed it once

Against the bowl

Then watched more foam

Show up from nowhere

The rack was crowded

With almost clean things

Cups tilted wrong

Forks facing up

A spoon held bubbles

Under its handle

Like a small mistake

With a hiding place

Check the edge

Check the back

Check the glass

Check the plate

Check the bowl

Check the spoon

Check my hands

Check again

Rinse the edge

Turn the plate

Wipe the counter

Miss a spot

Rinse the edge

Turn the plate

One small chore

Gets bigger

I thought I had finished

One small thing today

Then held it to the faucet

And started again

Soap Left in the Dish

After I called it done

I wanted one task

To stay completed

I wanted one task

To stay where I put it

The water ran warmer

Than I expected

My fingers wrinkled

Around the plate

A sleeve touched the sink

And stayed wet

I looked at the towel

Then left it hanging

The cabinet was open

By two inches

The drawer had crumbs

Near the handle

I washed the dish

And found the counter

I wiped the counter

And found the floor

I thought I had finished

One small thing today

Then held it to the faucet

And started again

Soap Left in the Dish

After I called it done

I wanted one task

To stay completed

I wanted one task

To stay where I put it

It was not a problem

Big enough to name

No plate was ruined

No meal came back

No one was waiting

For this to be correct

But I kept checking

Simple things

As if the room

Needed proof

As if my hands

Could make one corner

Come out clean

And stay that way

I dried the plate slowly

With the same towel

Folded it once

Then used the wet part

The rim looked clear

From one angle

I turned it over

To be sure

There was nothing there

Or almost nothing

Which was worse

In a regular way

I put it in the rack

Then looked once more

Because done

Had become a guess

I thought I had finished

One small thing today

Then held it to the faucet

And started again

Soap Left in the Dish

After I called it done

One clean thing

Still asking for more

I wanted one task

To stay completed

I wanted one task

To stay where I put it

Soap Left in the Dish

Or maybe just my thumb

Finding a reason

To start over

Soap Left in the Dish

After I called it done

The plate stayed clean

I checked it anyway