Stealing Time

“write a poem” is not on today’s must-do list—is not “do the dishes”, “mow the lawn”, “paybills”, “drop off books at library”, “mailpresent to Uncle Steve”, “schedule dentistappointment”, “call credit union”, “pick up kids”,“pick up groceries”, “make dinner”, “waterplants and garden”, “take out garbage”,“load of laundry”, “make school lunches”—and yet: here I find myself, at my desk, choosingfrom this stack of sharpened pencils,ready and eager to translate musingsinto soft grey lines on the page, hopefulthat something beautiful will comeand stem this tide of guilt.