Fifteen Minutes

Redone after the great Feb '08 Dump...

Open the bathroom door and close it behind you

take off your clothes and make a pile on the floor

Slide back the curtain - make it neat

and step inside the tub.

Turn the water to just the right temperature

Make it full blast - it feels so good.

The water hits your head, and bounces around

the tiles and makes them sparkle from the soap

Reach for the scrubbie where it always hangs

A mix like cinnamon toast  - smells so good.

The bubbles slide down your skin in swirling lines

Use cream rinse - two minutes on - you hum a song...

Water bounces off your hair, face, shoulders,

breasts, along your stomach and legs....

in a small circle around your feet and down the drain....

 

Oh, did I forget the part about how cool the tile

feels on your forehead when you press your face

against it to cry until you are empty?

So this is where you go to cry because I found out early

the kids don't hear you when the water is blasting,

You let them watch their cartoons from the time the big hand

moves from 12 to 3.....

they know you love your shower,

they know where you are -

they will let you be - this is your time.

 

Turn off the water

Grab the soft yellow towel -

the color of sunshine bright that you paid too much for ...

Move the curtain away and step onto the goofy rug

the kids picked out for Mother's Day...

Chin high - eyes bright - shoulders back...

You have had your time - you sent it down the drain

It is time to be done - it is time to be on

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redone 2/18/08  KathNehls

 

Reviews

[MrJodie]

Wow, Kath, this is terrific. I like the open flow of the second and third verses better than the first. The sentiment and imagery are raw and very genuine, that's obvious. It's something all of us go through, isn't it?
I LOVE the ending. Time to be "on." Nice.

I've also discovered that when I cry (yes, a guy who cries... go figure) my children can be amazingly supportive and helpful to me, if I let them. I cry because of them. I cry for them. I cry with them. They are such a big part of my life. I can tell you're the same. Bless you.

[Donald Meikle]

This is what poetry's supposed to do, well done!

[Creepy Swine Guy]

See now that is the stirring write that I remember from when I first read this wonderful poem. I love it again.

[SweetPeachesAlways]

You found it! Yes! Another tragedy narrowly averted! And it is still one of my favorites!

[April Child]

Omigod, it's not just me that cries in the shower then. This really touched me Kath, I thought it was a cheery little bathtime ditty through verse one and then verse 2...

Oh, did I forget the part about how cool the tile
feels on your forehead when you press your face
against it to cry until you are empty?

Well that just made me well up... I think I have to go take my shower now....

This is a beauty, its simple, true and it tells it like it is. The little ironies like stepping onto the goofy mat the kids bought, the sunshine yellow towel are all perfect details.