It is a shell of a life.
Dedicated to others.
Nothing for myself.
I give and give and give.
Eventually I break.
I have nothing more to give.
They are okay.
I am not.
It will take several more years
before I begin to get better.
The struggle is still there.
I am still expected to give.
Now I take time for myself.
This routine was broken
and now it is time
to renew the energy
that was given by the break.
The pair broken up.
What should be whole
Is incomplete.
Once again
the dryer ate the other sock.
I read a short one page
That had the kid
Advertise a brand of cookies.
I remember him saying how
Some adults like to drink tea
When they eat them.
Where as I agreed with him
Milk is the best accompaniment
To any sweet treat.
There is a real world out there.
Reminders remind me.
Appointments still need to be done.
Virtual or a phone call.
People want to know if you are still alive.
Responsibilities never go away.
It stares at me.
It has no eyes.
Yet I know it sees me.
It laughs.
And smirks as I walk by.
It is not alive.
Yet I feel like it is hiding something.
Probably my sanity.
Spring sets in cabin fever.
Covid isolation
Amplifies this hidden desire.
The sun shines brightly
And all you see is the view
Of other people enjoying it.
Strange how life
Changes in such a short amount of time.
Technology and medical services
Are so advanced
We can know our diagnosis quicker.
Yet even that
Doesn’t stop the shock and horror.
Cape versus cloak.
Bell bottoms as opposed to skinny jeans.
Plaid or pastel?
Which is better
Is determined by opinion.
This opinion is made popular
By certain magazines.
I somehow doubt
They’ll ever make loincloths
A popular piece of clothing.
When circumstances
Obligate you to a chore
You would not wish upon anyone else
Sometimes all you end up doing
Is watching that someone
Try to get better
And finding yourself
Not able to do anything for them.
So instead you turn your attention
To other chores
Which need to be done
But are not as useful.
Tasks need to be done.
Someone has to do them.
Jobs that are not pleasant.
To those who do them
I thank you.
Saturn's Premier Poet 