quarter past
i’m a quarter past mental breakdown
when the kids have gone
the house is empty
the weekend mine to
miss them in
he drives away like a sad sack
the face he wears for my punishment
they’ll play basketball
probably
eat sugar a lot
i’m coughing up blood in the kitchen
looking at toys half put away
dishes that want cleaning
in the overwhelm of emotions
i find solace in the mundane
later when my face looks fine
i’ll have showered and i’ll drive
i’ll work, i’ll breathe, i’ll inhale
i’ll exhale and i’ll tell myself
it’s enough
it’s enough
7 thoughts on "quarter past"
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Wow. This is powerful and intense. I’m struck especially by the line “the face he wears for my punishment” and also by the entire last stanza. Shattering.
This poem leaves the reader with a lasting presence. Honest, visceral, and well written. Thank you.
that line also hit me Kevin “the face he wears for my punishment” – “the sad sack” – very visual poem at that, and there is much of the mundane not only in their comfort, but in what the children will do while they are missed. a personal hell.
a whole life flashes in 4 stanzas
it’s enough…more than enough
powerful language and heartbreaking. i hope the speaker here presses on and finds for themself whatever it is that would make it all “enough.”
I’m with Jasmine, hoping the speaker prioritizes self-care
Ah I wrote my feelings this morning. Thank you all for your thoughtful and kind responses. Writing is how I make sense of things, how I make things feel a little less bad sometimes. It didn’t feel good, but I’m kind of pleased that that was translated through the poem as well. Thank you ❤