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Poetry | March 2016

Sisyphusian Condition

By Ava Love Hanna

I am tired, defeated,
a nightgown-clad Sisyphus
making waffles and eggs,
washing dishes, folding laundry,
pushing the boulder of domestic chores
up the hill day after day.

My muscles ache, and I long to rest—
to slip into soft sweet sleep,
alone and unneeded,

but I have to wash the same dishes again.
I close my eyes and bemoan the fates
when a glass clinks against the edge
of the sink, and I hear my coin
dropping into Charon’s pouch.

I feel the stab, the ache in my chest
as my heart pounds the reminder:
time is short, and the ferry moves closer every day.

I sweep up my crumb-covered toddler,
cover him with kisses,
and dance him past piles of laundry
and scattered toys, dirty dishes and daily messes,
sempiternal messes—
a privilege of the living.

Tagged: Kudos

2 replies on “Sisyphusian Condition”

Kristan Brazielsays:
March 17, 2016 at 6:09 pm

Fantastic! Captures all the mommy feelings so beautifully.

Reply
Rachelsays:
April 14, 2016 at 8:48 am

Really beautiful – thank you. (I too am so surprised when people think I’m a grown up – especially teenager – I think – why are you acting like I’m an authority?)

Reply

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