POETRY For REAL-life Moms

Ode to Chores

When the Good Lord in his wisdom, Hark!

Said, “Separate the light from dark”

He clearly didn’t see that time

Would be a scarce resource to find

I throw my clothes-wash in by person

Lest my crazed schedule worsen

If I put in dark and later light

Lord knows, I’d be doing wash all night!

Now let’s take a look at dishes

Yes! I want to save the fishes

But the washer needs to run,

Each night, or mornings won’t be fun

There will be no little spoons, I trust

And everyone will miss the bus

And who is it who said that

If we bought a tabby cat

They would surely clean the litter

A chore which leaves me slightly bitter

Babies while they make a mess,

Their culinary interests

Are simple, older kids, not so,

They complicate things as they grow

Til no meal happens by the book

Less dinner, more short order cook.

One says too sweet, one says no crust

One spits it out with disgust

And if you find a way to wrangle

Your whole brood to the table

One eats fast the other slow

Every answer; “I don’t know”

Lordy what’s a mom to do

With such a cantankerous crew?

But I digress, our topic here

Is what to do with soccer gear

Piles of cleats, and sticks lacrosse

And other sporty stuff to toss

But instead I make a bin

Label it, and throw stuff in

So take a cue from my girl Eve

If you feel a sudden pull to leave

You are not the only one

Chores are simply not that fun.

The Keys to All the power

The first one in the shower

Holds the keys to all the power

For this citizen decides

To be benevolent or cruel

Will his rein be one of mercy

A regime of law and rule

Or will a dearth of heated water

Go down the drain with his endeavor

To be clean as a whistle

Pray he settles for some gristle

Behind a little toe

Or a left or right side ear

For a benevolent commander

In the shower won’t meander

He believes that others aught

To have some water that is hot!

Fathers are a fence

Fathers are a fence

You climb over

Hang around on

Lean on when you’re tired

Perch on in fair weather

Use to check your balance

Will not fall or break

No matter where you wander

Or how big a mistake

Fathers are there

When you return

In disrepair

And set their coffee

On the porch

Or pull up the old porch chair

And wait quietly

For words

You shuffle feet and stare

A father is a mountain

Sturdy as a bear

Stoic and heroic

Tells it to you straight

A shoulder you can cry on

Shoes that you can try on

Someone you can love

And someone you can hate

Fathers are a fence

You climb over

Hang around on

Hold to keep you steady

Will not fall or break

Teach you to be reckless

Teach you to be kind

Lift you up so you can see

A father is the man

One day you will be