I'll do the dishes

If you’re cooking 
I will do the dishes 
If it’s the last thing I do 

Because you’ll fight me 
Kick me out of my own kitchen 
Giggling like kids again 

I’ll do the dishes 
If you cook for me 

I’ll curl up in my corner with a book 
While you’re on shift 
And smile when you come back 

And you will – come back 
To me 
And my kitchen 

Stick on that one song 
'Bout the young kids in love 
From way back when 

The times when we laughed 
Cried-bickered-danced-cared 
The point in life when we decided 
You’ll be the one cooking 

And I’d go get my degree 
You’d go off to be a hero
And I’d wait in the chair you built me 
That rocks just a touch 
Enough to swing a tad 


A smile cracks as you stare at the sight 
I turn the page 
You still there staring 
I feel your gaze 
But I let you stand there 

Knowing eventually you’ll turn 
Towards the kitchen 
Just to yell 
“What you want for dinner?” 
“What I want is to do the damn dishes tonight"
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

Poem

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