If I could, I surely would spend time to buy my time back.
I would bribe it away, gladly give time all time I’d saved.
To hush time’s clock and hurts from all it stole from me,
I’d liquidate my time bonds and time earning stocks.
From the government to bread, false doctrine is fed
that time is for growing dimes to elsewhere bestow.
My soul longs for remote, a dwelling simple, a garden
ample, breathing without time strangling or mangling.
As time's slave, I must behave when it ends deep sleep
to summon me, ‘up, press and stress you working pawn.'
I sold time's possible joys when I enrolled in the goals
of a two-car-mortgage-anxiety-variety-cargo show.
Raised to believe responsibility was the surest path
to fulfilment availability, I neglected my own math.
I didn't try a pencil but hopped traditional boxed squares
and one by one I landed on time squares aloof, never fair.
Time gave my baby’s first “I love you” away at daycare,
a vague recipient, like the vague I paid causing the incident.
Time given that I might prosper fostered so much lack that
if I could, I surely would spend time to buy my time back.
the old bones of god
sit on street corners
with their doors unlocked—
not for prayer,
but for the lost electricity
of people trying
to feel something again.
they rent the pews
by the hour now:
yoga mats where knees once bent,
AA circles where confessions
spill easier than psalms,
daycare toys rattling
in the echoes of stained glass.
sometimes a wedding,
two kids promising eternity
under a roof that’s seen
too many broken versions
of forever.
other times it’s silence—
a holy kind—
where only dust believes
in resurrection.
the steeple still watches,
but it doesn’t judge anymore.
it just waits,
the old drunk sentinel,
for someone to stumble in
with a wound
too human for the streets
and too honest
for the bars.
what are churches used for now?
whatever keeps the roof on,
whatever keeps the lights dim,
whatever lets a few souls
sit still long enough
to remember
they’ve got one.
America's genocide, by way of abortion, drugs and other ways unseen.
America's genocide looks clear to me, non-Americans are growing and have a high birth rate, making them not suffer genocide.
America should allow for free day care, allowing women to have options if they need, just enlarge the schools to include daycare.
America should put its unborn first, making way for a higher birth rate.
America's genocide looks like a plan to make Americans suffer loss, loss of family members, loss of voices, because they are a smaller and smaller groups have less voices.
America should put its people first, and allow for free stuff, like free college, free trade school, free day care from birth forward.
America's freedom is always at stake, voices are the way to protect freedom, any killing of its people is genocide for America.
Lifting prayers to God, today and always.
three generations of mothers created a fourth-
mine, my children's, my grandchildren's
between the late fifties and April this year
I have welcomed thirteen births- my three
five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren
generations unfold in ways of the times
as a stay-at-home mom- late 50s through 60s
when my third child began school, I sought
a part-time job- and later, night classes at college
earned a BA degree in English, after six long years
in the nineties, my three gave me grandkids
times were more relaxed then, as new moms
left hospitals quicker- back to work sooner
dads assisted in more ways than ever before
family members helped as reliable babysitters
six years ago, I held my first great-grandchild-
my fifth arrived this month- our fourth generation
their moms accept the duality of motherhood-
having careers and raising their babies, who
learn so much- including social skills- at Daycare
Swimming was my favorite exercise as a child
Loved the freezing cold water even if air was mild
In the late seventies, racquetball became the rage
I drove my new baby to daycare and loved this age
Running was never my favorite thing to do
Maybe I had never found the right jogging shoe
In my mid fifties I exercised at Curves and got into shape
Svelte and jock-like, I could have worn Wonder Woman’s cape
I tore my meniscus while doing yoga at work one day
My new exercise included a bicycle like pedal thing now put away.
Take your power women, and use it for good.
Remember the times that we suffered with no path to grow.
They made us work for free, and kill our children by abortion and lack of money to give birth.
They made us choose life or death, by failing to give us choices.
We needed free education, free universal daycare from birth forward, free support to help us grow.
They tricked us with words of love, yet they gloat when they tell others, they have no wife or children or lover.
They used us and sometimes abused us with tricks of love.
Sometimes they raped us, and laughed and failed to admit they put us on a negative life path.
Making our life trajectory become sad and depressed.
Remember the power within yourself, hold it close and remember the lost and the weak as you grow.
Kid naps here, daycare!
Sick babies...About those
Kidnaps are there! Out there!
I wish I could, evocation, dowry!
For an already invested $275 nuptial Tyler Mowrey!
Gaza wall and Tel-Aviv- a , embracing in Jackson Church
Sameeha Azra- eel A and a PEER in peer pressure for air fryer
Is your oxygen an EIN? Bargaining overseas? Playing diplomacy? Daunts in ranting ramps where models stood?
Sometimes, data cable is not that a bad idea, where "inna lillah" is also a cliched Hinda call!
Long she served Holly Wood, May she come true among converts and traveler (pilgrims)
further in optimism in selfless "Sufism" not "Sophism or Hedonism",
Sin and Boon are all stamped with the sense of Shame, where the guilt is sensed after all!
Not a river dredging and to make a parable to river shifting, as no longer helpful!
Helpful and no longer! For once, try in Pickthall!
For the end of the time and the beginning, too
Time impeccable is Timeless Allah (SWT) and the all-knowing and all!
In time He begets not,
In Time He is free from the need of an obgyn,
of that specialty, departmental.
Sammy’s parents wanted a baby.
He thought it would be a good thing also
until they got a baby.
A wrinkled up old-man-looking screaming wailing baby.
The one they got was a girl, they named it Sheila.
She cried all the time.
At first she sounded like a whimpering mewing baby alley cat.
Her crying got louder, more desperate, and shrill over time
More urgent, more desperate.
People in the grocery store gave them mean looks
that said “Why can’t you keep that thing quiet?”
Sammy wanted them to send it back.
“Babies are never labelled return to sender.”
He was forced to listen to a couple of years of this insane crying.
Why doesn’t she just tell us what she wants?
Why does she always have to CRY about it?
Babies don’t have words yet, his parents told Sammy.
Sammy thought about this for a long time.
When he was a young adult he worked in a daycare center.
He taught the babies sign languages for milk, eat, sleepy, and bored.
After the babies learned the sign, they were less frustrated.
Thus, there was less crying, and the workers had less frazzled nerves.
Decisions that we make every day will shape our future to come
So many thoughts float around in our heads, we need to sort out the ones to pick from
When you get up in the morning you need to decide what to wear
Always a challenge to get the children ready for school and the little ones to daycare
That big meeting this afternoon I still need to get ready for
A magnitude of issues to decide on or at least explore
The old car is in dire need of repair, something needs to be done
Time to buy a new vehicle, but the cost has left us stunned
I need to pick up Pizzas for dinner tonight, but no one knows what kind I should get
Will my decision make everyone happy , Probably not what do you want to bet One thing for sure later tonight I am going to put my feet up and relax
One decision that is make for me every year, time to file my income tax
Stretched out,
On a daycare cot.
Told to take a nap,
Didn't want to!
A lot!
I might miss something,
So didn't make a peep.
Closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.
Waited until they were gone,
Snuck out across the lawn.
Knew where my brother had gone.
Up the stairs,
Into his room,
The teacher was talking about the moon.
Slid underneath his desk,
His legs hid me from the rest!
Stayed there until I had to pee,
Thats what gave me away.
But I didn't take a nap today!
Children can be pretty noisy while you’re driving
As they are in your responsible care.
When you take the bus back to the garage,
After dropping every child at their homes or daycare
Make a thorough sweep over every row ensuring a child has not
Been left behind and make sure everything is secure.
4/19/2024
Growing up together
for a short while
in my home
a daycare setting
over the moon
a sort of swoon
after a holiday break
Ronnie and Zach
attack each other’s lips
with a kiss
sweet as pie
it’s still in my mind’s eye
i saw Ronnie at the library
when i first started there
she was a teen
i recognized the street
she lived on
from off her i.d.
i saw Zach on t.v.
he was in a dancing contest
i remember his candy frenzy
he was like the energizer bunny
and there he was with a girl
in his arms
not his first love
i knew who that was
3/11/2023
Miss Vivian, our precious girl,
On this, your special day,
Your Mimi and your Big Daddy
Just have one thing to say:
Oh, happy day, sweet little one,
We hope it’s a delight,
And that you get a piece of cake
When you get home tonight!
Your grandpa’s going back to work,
Retirement’s just too hard,
I think that I’ll go head to head
With Hallmark greeting cards.
Apparently, there’s cash to make
By crafting sappy drool;
Sarcastic birthday wishes may
Not sell, but they sure rule!
So try not to catch COVID, dear,
At daycare, while you play,
We’re kind of short on flyer miles,
And won’t be there today.
We’ll settle for a Facetime call,
Not one we’d want to miss,
So we can give a virtual
Sweet, Happy Birthday kiss!
----------
A birthday card inscription for Vivian, must have been last year. Posting to join my collection at the soup...
Children fell asleep
Heavenly the dreams they had--
In death's land awoke!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
08 October 2022
Last Thursday, at a daycare center in northeastern Thailand, a former police officer killed thirty-seven people of whom twenty-five were young children, some as young as two years of age.
I dedicate this Senryu to their memory!
He lives right next door to me and he is seven years old
as I stood on my balcony I watch him come out of the house
backpack strapped to his back he looked forlorn and serious
"Are you looking forward to your first day of school?" I asked
He looked up at me with big brown eyes then
adjusting the strap of his school bag kicked a pebble in his way
"I wish there was no school, only daycare and summer camp
now that I have to go to school, all I do is homework, shower,
then go to bed"
His mom stepped out, " Delano are you ready? "
"Yes mom," he whispered then disappeared inside the car;
I smiled as I recalled my first day of school
The year was 1966. I didn't speak a word of English
I was terrified no one would want to play with me
When I asked my mom, "do I have to go ?"
She kissed me on the cheek, then squaring my shoulders
and said with a big resounding Si, " yes you do !"
Sept 9 2022
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