The happy chug of the washing machine br Washing whites left overnight to soak, br Daughter's weather forecast for the day br Between bites of breakfast pastry, br Mom sent off with a kiss, br The front porch and br Night lights through out the house turned off, br The shampooed dog of yesterday at side, br POETRY. br An almost perfect departure into the day br If only the kid could have mustered br Energy for an old man hug.