Anxiety’s Other Victim Poem by Jon Albert Zimmer

It starts again, the cycle repeats.
From where it comes, I do not know.
You have to “Put down the seat! ”
she snarls, 'every time you go.'

Thirty three thousand, five hundred and eight renditions
I’ve put the seat in the preferred position.
And for this singular occasion of distraction,
Your anger puts my spirits in traction.

Hostility for days…
“You see this on the kitchen floor? Its dirt! ! ! ”
“You need to use the scrub brush.” A tone to hurt.
As if I don’t already have enough on my plate.
“No, I’m not going to do it” I said to leave no room
for question or debate.

TO DO:
Second coat and hang the shutters,
Touch up the outside trim.
Keep to myself all my mutters.

Patch and paint the stucco foundation
Power wash the steps.
Hold back emotions and language sanitation.

Paint the front and back doors
Replace the deck..
All the while, do the regular chores:

Wash the dog,
clean the bathrooms,
vacuum the dog hair
mop the kitchen,
make the beds,
weed the garden,
mow the grass.

Do the daddy stuff,
Pay the bills.
What's wrong with you? '
“WE CAN’T DRAG THIS OUT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS! ”

July 2008