"What is elegance? Soap and water." (--Cecil Beaton)

Shadow Wash

I've never washed my shadow out

in all the time I've had it.

It was absolutely filthy, I supposed,

And so today I peeled it off

the wall where it was leaning

And stuck it in the washtub

With the clothes

I put in soap and bleach and stuff

I let it soak for hours

I wrung it out and hung it out to dry,

And whoever would have thunk 

That it would have gone and shrunk

For now it's so much

Littler than I.

(--Shel Silverstein)