Poems by T.J. Swisher

Exhaustion's Expression

36 hours
    nothing changed.
except exhaustion & time
    still the laundry piles
          the dishes accumulate
          the dust bunnies turn
                        to giant monsters,
well into dinner time
      the stove remains unheated
      the microwave untouched
      the table still cluttered
      with nothing from the food pyramid
                                                within sight,
fatigue in muscle and joint
    must grasp reality for a few more hours
              feed the kids
              cop-out and just down cereal? pop a pizza in the oven?
              relent and ensure at least
              three food groups are present,
bed time routine
      with fight over PJs and lights out,
      then unpack, maybe just the necessities,
      let the dog out, then in,
prep bags for the morning
    bathroom then tuck into bed one
            for all the fuss
            asleep in clothes from the day
            stirs enough to get into PJs, then prayers
            music too soft with lamp light
            as quiet darkness still scares
the other
      lullaby music in darkness
      tucked against my chest
      hold awake til she's asleep
      into the sleep sack, it's still chilly
      and into the crib
one final sweep around the house
      and under the covers
  til the alarm
          startles with
          exhaustion still clinging
  let the dog out
      feed and water, back in again,
  bathroom and shower
      awake the oldest
      quick time to go
gather the youngest
          still groggy in sleep
          dress between the fussiness
          the toddler temper tantrum
  and more time goes
head begins to throb
no time for coffee
      shuffle, rush, growl,
and off to work and school
        has it only been 48 hours since the last work day.


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Exhaustion`s Expression

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