My Wife

The house looks clean
except for small things strewn about
on the couch, the sides of chairs
I follow the route.

Something sizzles on the stove
with spatula in hand
she reaches up
donning on the overhead fan.

I go to her, my arms outstretched
she waves me away
She looks flustered, I notice
"Hi hon." I say.

She smiles briefly
then goes back to her chores
wipes a piece of hair away
can she take anymore?

a while later, she yells
"time to eat!"
in one hand steaming rolls
in the other, seasoned meat.

We sit down
fold our arms and say a prayer.
the kids say, "I don't like this."
she say's, "I don't care."

she's the first to leave
gathering dishes as she goes
how hard does she work?
nobody knows.

The dishes are done
she exhales and sits down
turns on her computer
without uttering a sound.

Scans through her mail
and begins to reply
writing feedback to others
barely batting an eye.

Time for kid's bed
as she glances at  the clock
a hug and kiss goodnight
some more small talk.

She soaks in the tub
drowns her worries away
then comes back, calm
and then recites her day.

Shrugs of "don't know,"
when asked, "are you mad?"
no more said
as my son yells, "dad!"

I just want attention
is that too much to ask?
or am I just another
one of her tasks?

Soon I feel her hand
caressing my skin
I turn and smile
she returns with a grin.

No words are said
but we connected, I feel
she yawns, she 's tired
as she turns on her heel.

She tells me goodnight
I say the same
and go back to my work
prior to when she came.

Later I come in
she's sound asleep
I crawl in quietly
not making a peep.

I snuggle up close
she stirs just a bit
I close my eyes
we're a perfect fit.

Tomorrow will be better
I say in my mind
tomorrow, we can both be
extra kind.

For raising a family
is so much work
we try our best
but still act like jerks.

We'll keep trudging on
cause we love each other so
We'll give it our all
We'll make happiness our goal.