(I ultimately took out the “every day seems the same” prompt because it wasn’t adding to the poem itself, though this poem was very much inspired by the prompt nevertheless. I’m not sure if the spacing is working - I’m trying to have work on one side and home on the other. Needs to be tinkered with more, and the diction could be improved…putting it out there so I can revisit it later).

**Home**

I rage against

the coming of the light

beeping alarm

I squandar my most

treasured hour for

…just a few more minutes of…

ZZZ

Earthy, nutty aroma of hot coffee

the few moments of calm

before the chaos begins

A beeping alarm

disrupts the calm

“I

don’t

want

to go

to Daycare!”

“Is it a weekend?”

I wish

I should get them

a healthy breakfast

Okay - fine

Frosted Flakes

again

“Maybe tomorrow momma”

Daycare drop off

“Uppy hugs” goodbye

Traffic to **Work**

Earthy, nutty aroma of hot coffee

the few moments of calm

before the chaos/classes begin(s)

A ringing bell

disrupts the calm

“I don’t

want to

write that

essay”

(I don’t want

to mark them

but that’s left

unsaid)

I should stop giving them

lessons on comma splices, they never listen.

Maybe next time

Bell

Teach

Bell

Teach

Bell

(Madly try to

photocopy hastily

prepared lessons

while eating a sandwich)

Bell

Teach

Bell

Teach

Bell

Try to tackle pile of marking

Give up, plan for lessons tomorrow

Traffic to

**Home**

Daycare pickup

“Momma!!”

Make supper

(Madly try to

eat my supper

while getting second helpings,

cutting kid’s food,

explaining why we have to eat vegetables

- another lesson unheeded)

Clean up supper

Help find a particular toy

Pick up toys

Get out crayons

Pick up crayons

Tea Party with a bear

Put on PJs

Brush Teeth

Bed for the kids

Put the kids back in bed

Put the kids back in bed

Put the kids back in bed

Try to tackle pile of marking

Give up, pack lunches for tomorrow

Repeat