List Poem, Poetry, Theme Prompt, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompts

Beatitudes of the Mundane

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Reena’s Xploration Challenge.
Our challenge is focus on the mundane.
Do we find it boring or interesting?
This is my interpretation.

Image by Me & Gemini

Blessed be the laundry, warm and dry from the line,
for the clothes folded into the same small squares,
carried back to the same drawers, smelling of fresh air.

Blessed be the coffee cup left beside the sink,
for the faint brown ring at the bottom,
proof that nothing remarkable happened this morning.

Blessed be the grocery list: milk, bread, eggs, butter ….
for the four little promises
that will guarantee tomorrow’s breakfast.

Blessed be the broom gathering yesterday’s crumbs,
for making the floor clean enough
to become dirty again.

Blessed be the red light at the corner where we wait,
for the familiar song on the radio,
the car ahead of us going nowhere fast.

Blessed be the bed we make only to unmake it at night,
for smoothing the sheets for no one
except our future tired selves.

And blessed be all these boring things ….
the washing, folding, sweeping, waiting ….
for they are the quiet evidence
that, for one more ordinary day,
life needed tending
and we were here to tend it.

NAR©2026

This is “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon feat. Chevy Chase

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #443

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.



42 thoughts on “Beatitudes of the Mundane”

  2. Pingback: Reena’s Xploration Challenge #444 – Creative Experiments and More

  9. Oh, I forgot to add, tonight, I’m listening to wonderful ‘brand new’ video of “Hollow Coves” recent concert in Sao Paulo … well get time, enjoy the show my friend 🥰🎵🌏

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  10. Extraordinary soundtrack, to go with your extraordinary poem my friend …
    “Day-to-day things, the mundane, are what keeps the motor running.  How extraordinary the ordinary really is, a tool we all use to keep going, a template for sanity.” ~ Cecelia Ahern

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  11. How lovely Nance – you turn all the ‘mundane’ tasks on their head – means you have a life, a home, and a presence. Being around to sweep, fold, and wait is “quiet evidence” that you made it through another day. Routine isn’t a trap; it’s proof of survival and care

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    1. Absolutely right, Ange, and written from my heart. After all the extraordinary, unplanned, and sometimes unwelcome events in my life, I’m quite happy and blessed to be living an ordinary existence. I’m delighted you enjoyed my poem; thanks for your most gracious feedback. Mille grazie, cara. 💖

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