Everything for you
she says, making
separate dinners
from no recipe
for each child
two vegetarians
steak for daddy
the baby won’t eat peas
Everything for you
she says, sweeping
floors she wishes away
in secret, guiding crumbs
from dinners the
children have eaten
all through the house
Everything for you
she says, with every
move of her hand,
sweep of a strand
of hair from the face
of a crying child
Everything for you
because my life is
half over, and yours
is just beginning.
**
I sit at the
table reading
lift my feet
as she whisks
the broom
under them
when everyone
goes to bed,
I will put down
my book and
do all of
the dishes
