Bedtime Ritual
one quick tug at my state of mind
and the pearls tumble, skitter
bouncing here and there
chasing and scooping, they must be gathered
to tend to the task at hand
only two hours remain
'til the earliest possible bedtime
being a good mama will allow
sweet anticipation of declaring this day done,
for five minutes of decadent, chocolate solitude.
but for now, Duties form a line to taunt me
the lunchboxes need filling
string cheese and a juice box,
satisfying each food group
that open pail an omen for the tongue-lashing
concerning those poor, starving children in China.
jigsaw mom is scrubbing pots and pans and behind each ear
dumping dinner’s casualties
and turning down the volume on this debate:
Whose turn is it to sleep with the dog?
all the while trying to reach the peak of Mount Laundry
now sending warriors off to vanquish those sugar bugs in foamy death
then twenty sweet-soap smelling piggies converge to
giggle at the unfortunate demise of fat and greedy Augustus Gloop.
eight o'clock is standing on the horizon
with his swelled chest and red cape
those sweet, darling monsters hone the tactics of their craft
masters of delay—aches, pains and rumbling tummies
missing blankie again—
dingy, once white affection demanding a search party
no rest for the weary until it's located
finally, cocooned in the fragrance of home,
I long to rock and hold suspending this moment
but Deadline glares at me from the doorway
and Fatigue and Responsibility urge me not to linger
instead, a firm pat and a hasty kiss to perfect cheeks
at last, Silence conquers
a tip-toe and a peek confirm departure into dreamland.
I dare the faintest touch, brushing back silken strands
let Busy-ness wait with his crossed arms and the tap-tap-tap of his toe
this moment, I choose for my Loves