A moment of calm
disrupted by
unsettling feeling.

A vague note
about something
you scribbled

days ago in planner
has become
illegible.

Actual events
that led to note
have become a blur.

You prefer to move
on to the next event,
something fun.

But you’re committed
to 11th commandment:
housework.

Dusting, vacuuming.
sweeping, mopping floors
room by room.

Laundry, dishes,
cleaning out and
rearranging cabinets.

Drawers of stuff
acquired from
sources unknown.

Once accomplished
you can rest
but only for today.

Remember mother’s
warning: housework
is never done.

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. Janet prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.