Searching for an essay about dust

October 10, 2013 6:19 PM

I'm looking for an essay I read several years ago (circa 2002–2007) that is an appreciation of dust, especially dust gathering in the home/not dusting. Its author is female. It may be part of a book/collection of essays by this author. A detail I remember from the essay: the author writes that it's not necessary to clean your cups very well, except when you have company at your home.

thanks!

posted by Jason and Laszlo to Media & Arts (3 answers total)

A long shot, and not female: but could it possibly have been Quentin Crisp? "There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse."
posted by glasseyes at 6:58 PM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Could it be from “Dust”, by Phyllis April King? Here's the excerpt she read on Ivor Cutler's album ‘Jammy Smears’ (1976):

I do not know what dust is
I do not know where it comes from
I only know that it settles on things
I cannot see it in the air or watch it fall
Sometimes I'm home all day
But I never see it sliding about looking for a place to rest when my back is turned
Does it wait 'til I go out?
Or does it happen in the night when I go to sleep?
Dust is not fussy about the places it chooses
Though it seems to prefer still objects
Sometimes, out of kindness I let it lie for weeks
On some places it will lie forever
However, dust holds no grudges and once removed
It will always return in a friendly way.

posted by scruss at 8:15 PM on October 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Secret Life of Dust by Hannah Holmes?
posted by Pomo at 10:41 PM on October 10, 2013 [1 favorite]