--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh, let there be nothing on earth but…" description: "\"Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry, Nothing but rosy hands in the rising steam And clear dances done in the sight of heaven.\" — Richard Wilbur" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/richard-wilbur-16815_clear_oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-lau_299266.png" --- # Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry, Nothing but… ![“Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry, Nothing but rosy hands in the rising steam And clear dances done in the sight of heaven.” quote by Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/richard-wilbur-16815_clear_oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-lau_299266.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/richard-wilbur-16815_clear_oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-lau_299266.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/richard-wilbur-16815_clear_oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-lau_299266.png) > “Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry, Nothing but rosy hands in the rising steam And clear dances done in the sight of heaven.” [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical wish for a world where simple chores become heavenly delights. **In simple terms:** Dream of laundry turning into bliss. Key Takeaway Find joy in everyday tasks. Themes joy domestics imagination Mood hopeful creative Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - household chores - creative writing - mindful living Key Concepts mundane transcendence beauty Questions to Reflect On - Can routine be a source of peace? - How does imagination alter perception? A Different Perspective Idealizing chores may ignore practical burdens. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, Christ! it is a goodly sight to see What Heaven hath done for this delicious land!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/oh-christ-it-is-a-goodly-sight-to-see-what-heaven-hath-done-for-this/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Last night, I was on the threshold of hell. To-day, I am within sight of my heaven. I have my eyes on it: hardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/last-night-i-was-on-the-threshold-of-hell-to-day-i-am-within-sight-of/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Hope differs from optimism. Hope does not arise from being told to "think positively," or from hearing an overly rosy forecast. Hope, unlike optimism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-groopman/hope-differs-from-optimism-hope-does-not-arise-from-being-told-to/) [Jerome Groopman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-groopman/) > [Our personal dispositions are as windowpanes through which we see the world either as rosy or dull. The way we color the glasses we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/our-personal-dispositions-are-as-windowpanes-through-which-we-see-the/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Public officials insult our intelligence and our goodwill when they paint rosy pictures about budgets, jobs, bipartisanship, and transparency, and alter their positions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/public-officials-insult-our-intelligence-and-our-goodwill-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She wore so much thick white makeup in order to conceal her naturally rosy complexion that if she turned around suddenly her face would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/she-wore-so-much-thick-white-makeup-in-order-to-conceal-her-naturally/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Shall I, wasting in despair,Die because a woman's fair?Or make pale my cheeks with care,'Cause another's rosy are?Be she fairer than the day,Or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wither/shall-i-wasting-in-despair-die-because-a-woman-s-fair-or-make-pale-my/) [George Wither](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wither/) > [The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/the-only-way-to-keep-a-dream-any-dream-at-all-to-keep-a-dream-perfect/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Nothing makes the future look so rosy as to contemplate it through a glass of Chambertin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/nothing-makes-the-future-look-so-rosy-as-to-contemplate-it-through-a/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A kiss, when all is told, what is it? An oath taken a little closer, a promise more exact. A wish that longs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-rostand/a-kiss-when-all-is-told-what-is-it-an-oath-taken-a-little-closer-a/) [Edmond Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-rostand/) > [ Matt Lauer asked her \[Hillary Clinton\] tough questions, in fact, questions that should have been asked and followed up on by the FBI in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/matt-lauer-asked-her-hillary-clinton-tough-questions-in-fact/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [If anyone looks back to the '70s, '80s with nostalgic rosy colored glasses and goes, 'Well, everything was awesome.' No, everything was not awesome!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oates/if-anyone-looks-back-to-the-70s-80s-with-nostalgic-rosy-colored/) [John Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oates/) > [When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/when-life-is-rosy-we-may-slide-by-with-knowing-about-jesus-with/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [Long, blue, spiky-edged shadows crept out across the snow-fields, while a rosy glow, at first scarce discernible, gradually deepened and suffused every mountain-top, flushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/long-blue-spiky-edged-shadows-crept-out-across-the-snow-fields-while/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [If I'm asked which is my favourite character to play, I'll definitely say Rosy from 'Guide' because I feel she is very real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waheeda-rehman/if-i-m-asked-which-is-my-favourite-character-to-play-i-ll-definitely/) [Waheeda Rehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waheeda-rehman/) ## More by Richard Wilbur > [Odd that a thing is most itself when likened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/odd-that-a-thing-is-most-itself-when-likened/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [Writing is?waiting for the word that may not be there until next Tuesday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/writing-is-waiting-for-the-word-that-may-not-be-there-until-next/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [Your hands hold roses always in a way that says They are not only yours; the beautiful changes In such kind ways, Wishing ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/your-hands-hold-roses-always-in-a-way-that-says-they-are-not-only/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [What's lightly hid is deepest understood,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/what-s-lightly-hid-is-deepest-understood/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [“the beautiful changes In such kind ways, Wishing ever to sunder Things and things’ selves for a second finding, to lose For a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/the-beautiful-changes-in-such-kind-ways-wishing-ever-to-sunder-things/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [Writing poetry is talking to oneself; yet it is a mode of talking to oneself in which the self disappears; and the product's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/writing-poetry-is-talking-to-oneself-yet-it-is-a-mode-of-talking-to/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [We know what boredom is: it is a dull Impatience or a fierce velleity, A champing wish, stalled by our lassitude, To make or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/we-know-what-boredom-is-it-is-a-dull-impatience-or-a-fierce-velleity/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [That's the main business of the poem!-to see if you can't make up a language that sets all your selves talking at once-all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/that-s-the-main-business-of-the-poem-to-see-if-you-can-t-make-up-a/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [What is our praise or pride but to imagine excellence and try to make it? What does it say over the door of heaven;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/what-is-our-praise-or-pride-but-to-imagine-excellence-and-try-to-make/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [It is true that the poet does not directly address his neighbors; but he does address a great congress of persons who dwell at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/it-is-true-that-the-poet-does-not-directly-address-his-neighbors-but/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [Step off assuredly into the blank of your mind. Something will come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/step-off-assuredly-into-the-blank-of-your-mind-something-will-come-to/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [Composition for me is, externally at least, scarcely distinguishable from catatonia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/composition-for-me-is-externally-at-least-scarcely-distinguishable/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [I would feel dead if I didn't have the ability periodically to put my world in order with a poem. I think to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/i-would-feel-dead-if-i-didn-t-have-the-ability-periodically-to-put-my/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [“During my lunch hour, which I spent on a bench in a nearby park, the waitresses would come and sit beside me talking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/during-my-lunch-hour-which-i-spent-on-a-bench-in-a-nearby-park-the/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) > [The strength of the genie comes from being in a bottle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/the-strength-of-the-genie-comes-from-being-in-a-bottle/) [Richard Wilbur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) [Explore all 38 Richard Wilbur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/) ## More Clear quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry, Nothing but rosy hands in the rising steam And clear dances done in the sight of heaven.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Wilbur" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-laundry-nothing-but-rosy-hands/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clear" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-laundry-nothing-but-rosy-hands/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/richard-wilbur-16815_clear_oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-lau_299266.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/richard-wilbur-16815_clear_oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-lau_299266.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa0/richard-wilbur-16815_clear_oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-lau_299266.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oh, let there be nothing on earth but laundry, Nothing but rosy hands in the rising steam And clear dances…” — Richard Wilbur", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Wilbur", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wilbur/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Oh, let there be nothing on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-laundry-nothing-but-rosy-hands/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wilbur/oh-let-there-be-nothing-on-earth-but-laundry-nothing-but-rosy-hands/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```