Pointing Accusing Fingers

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 total fiction

I heard the words repeated on the news
so sick of them that my mind rebelled...
"Doge's plan and Trump commands
the Constitution should be banned.
Hell to that Chief!  There's no relief
Breaking news only heightened the blues.
I don't want to hear anymore.

By seven P.M. I lost count of the trips
I'd made, walking fast, past my kitchen,
refusing to turn on the light to see
a day's worth of dirty dishes
that wish I'd make them sparkling clean.
They're staring with a look of contempt at me.

I knew what I'd find...
coffee grinds stuck to the filter
Raisin bran flakes
caked along the edge of a bowl
a saucer with a bunch of crusts
cut off of a sandwich from lunch.
I'll get to them later....
The excuse I used on myself
when the sink is a refuse of clutter.
I've become a recluse
and no one will see them anyway
and the old cliché of...
Tomorrow's another day.

By eight thirty I was bored
a time when food comes to mind
Hunger would not be ignored
A frozen dinner of mac and cheese
"Geeze" said my stomach 
when it saw it coming...
"Oh PLEASE, don't do this to me"
Ok, ok...
chocolate ice cream 
sounds better anyway

By ten, guilt pointed accusing fingers
lingering and wagging before my face.
Stop it!" I actually said aloud
"I'll get to them later,
first thing in the morning. You'll see."
My new mantra was repeated.
I decided to go to bed. My usual stunt,
but culpability was on the hunt
haunting and taunting inside my head

Two steps over the kitchen threshold
and my conscience took control
when I smelled the leftover fish.
The thought of facing each greasy dish
would not be on my to-do list come morning.

I knew my mouth was puckered in a pout
No doubt my yawns were angry at me
and my sudden notion of conviction...
a vow of benediction, it seems I'd taken
awakened me to the need for sanitation.

Liquid was pouring from two spouts
Hot water in the sink
and a 'clink' of glass on glass
Pinot Noir flowed from a decanter
I raised my stem and toasted the dishes
"Here's to wishes that don't come true."

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Duke Beaufort

Date: 3/1/2025 6:59:00 AM

Lin, the way you've done this makes me think of our leadership team as being like dirty dishes. We do know they smell really bad and need to be put in their place. Cleaning up the mess? I think we'll need a stronger drink and a bigger sink by the time this occurs!

Lin Lane
Date: 3/1/2025 7:10:00 AM

I've given up watching the news, but it's inescapable not to see it when headlines pop up online. To think a man who's lost his country and countrymen was ambushed in the oval office by two goons who tried to humiliate him is one of the most embarrassing moments in American history. I have so many thoughts on what the rest of the world must think of America now... bullies! I cringe.

David Kavanagh

Date: 3/1/2025 4:27:00 AM

Unfortunately the fairies have given up doing the dishes for us Lin, I first noticed this phenomenon when I got married lol! This is a great fun poem all spoken in the first person, to that other first person in your mind, and in a matter of fact way, I’ll share a toast to those dishes lying in your basin, and indeed dirty dishes in general, they will have to wait! ;) cheers David

Lin Lane
Date: 3/1/2025 4:45:00 AM

Cheers to you on that thought, David!!! I can’t stand a sink of dirty dishes. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I really do talk to myself! Lol