Everything

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