To All the Busy Moms...

Let's see

if we can give a tired mother a break

this Mother's Day...

ALL THE WOMEN I KNOW ARE TIRED

I see it in their strides

their slumped shoulders

their shuffling feet

as they drag themselves

through their tasks

I see it in their uncovered yawns

their dull expressions

the darkness below

their lusterless eyes

All the women I know

are weary, drained

unfocused

they stare into refrigerators

they stare out windows

they stare at papers

they try to remember

what they intended to do next

All the women I know

shower rather than bathe

drive rather than walk

phone rather than visit

They dream about

what they hope to do

when there's

time

All the women I know

are sleep deprived

up too early

down too late

rest-less

as they try

to get it all done

They can't get it all done

there's not enough time

All the women I know

are tired

Dog tired

especially during the holidays

because they love, they

shop and clean

cook and bake

wrap, decorate

send cards

invite

invite

invite

They're exhausted

especially those who go to work

especially those who go to work

and have children

especially those who go to work

and have old, ailing parents

All the women I know

fall asleep over teacups

in the evening

or over a book

or over the bills

or in front of the TV

All the women I know

believed the lie

drilled into them

in the '70s

that they could do it all

be it all

have it all

all what

all is nothing

when they languish

in their shoes

Maude Carolan

The above poem won an honorable mention in the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest and was originally published in the "Paterson Literary Review."