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.
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
Exhaustion`s Expression