Who Has Time to Write?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, so I thought I'd post it here. It's a poem I wrote for my thesis, but, with labor looming, it's more relevant than ever. It's crazy to think that life is about to change.


Who Has Time to Write?

It's hard to sit here and write poetry
when I have laundry to do.

The dishes in the sink won't get clean
if I turn the pages of this book and

wait for the ever-elusive inspiration.
Also, I worked from early this morning

until the sun was almost down,
and now instead of taking a bubble bath,

I have to scrub the bottom of it.
Writing this poem could cause me

to forget to eat, although it's just as well
because I have no time to exercise.

What will it be like in ten (or even five!) years
when the rented movie goes unwatched

while I write the mortgage check?
I'll be forced to wear socks at all times

when my only pedicure comes from toddlers
playing dress-up. So, please, if you love me,

just take our daughter or son from my arms
for a half-hour-I won't even take that bath-

I just need a few quiet moments to
finish writing this poem.