relief

to sweep
the kitchen floor clean

to pick the dead leaves
off the ailing strawberry plant

to fling the catalogs
into the trash

to unpack
the laundry pile

to replace
the frazzled toothbrush

to open the toaster
to perfect toast

to feel your pulse
in your own wrist,
your ankles, your stomach

to forego coffee
and not languish

to wear a new
green tanktop

to dance in the livingroom
to the same song over and over

to eat
with your hands

to wear flip flops

to be on the verge

to let things go

to let yourself go

to let all of your beautiful frailties
go

to discover
you are not wrong about some things

to discover
you are right about the one thing

to wake up
knowing you are loved

this
is relief.

Maya Stein3 Comments