Just—Daily

During the week

I get up earlier

thirty minutes or so

Let the dogs out

clean up whatever the night left behind 

I changed my work schedule

so I can be off on Fridays

appointments

or just to help 

On the weekends 

I get up

let the dogs out

cook breakfast 

Some days

eggs and sausage

sometimes

eggs and bacon

other days

eggs and pancakes

Lately

eggs and hash browns 

I do the laundry

wash

dry

fold

put away 

Clean the house

though we don’t make much mess 

Fix a few meals 

Some for now 

Some for later  

Mow the yard

trim it up 

That’s the physical

that’s what sits in my hands

But it goes

far beyond that 

There’s a cost

Not a price tag

nothing that simple 

This is life

This is what it is

Not à la carte

Not the dessert menu 

There’s a weight

mental

emotional

Sacrifice—

though not really 

There is more required of me now

This was always part of it

Part of the equation

part of the promise 

Not a question

of whether I will

or won’t 

Nothing heroic 

Just—

daily

© Ron Simpson Jr.