Found Words

I once thought
my words
were gone

taken to the curb
in a hefty bag
wrapped in a dirty diaper

or
perhaps
disintegrated
in the dryer
and turned into
a cottony lint

or maybe
vacuumed off
the family room floor
along with the carpet fresh

I was sure they were
scraped into the disposal
whirled into a gooey brown
liquid

or scrubbed off
the sides of the tub
sent spiraling
off to the sewer

I found them today
gently simmering
in a gleaming
copper-bottomed pot
on the back burner
of the flat top range

I hope I keep
them
this time
and lose
the housework
instead