Today my dishwasher became a dish dryer
as my husband creatively used the rack to stack
the freshly washed dishes

A huge reminder that we can’t afford
repairs or a new one
it doesn’t fit into our new ultra
conserve on everything,
skinny jeans tight
budget

and he doesn’t like it
I made him wash dishes by hand
the first time in 10 years
and I don’t have the energy to say thanks
thanks for something I have done for years
without anyone asking
except when someone says
“mom there’s no clean dishes
we’re out of glasses,
I can’t find a fork!”

So I unload the dishwasher everyone sees filled
and load it up with 3 more loads that day
but now that it’s broken
I don’t want to be stuck
with one more thankless job
of washing glasses as well as pots
spending hours
at the sink
seeing the splash marks on the tiles
like little eyes peering at me
guilting me into seeing one more thing
I don’t have time to clean

My hands getting repeatedly burned
and then frozen
when I can’t get the temperature right
reaching into an overflowing sink
spilling over like waves over the breakwater
of a kitchen counter
flowing like Niagara Falls
over the edge
onto my feet
I hate that
not noticing until I’m already wet
my socks dripping
torn whether I should just
leave them on to mop up the next spill
I know will happen
minutes from now

my hands are prunes
and if I’m not careful
buy the wrong dish soap
they’ll be dry and hurting me hours from now
it’s always so hard to know when to pull the plug
the water is still warm
but it’s gross with grease
and goop that once was someone’s soup
because they forgot to rinse the bowl
before throwing it in the sink or
stacking more bowls on top
concealing the mess

just like that pile of dirt that accumulates
under the carpet
cause no one wants to get the dustpan out
and I know cause sometimes it’s me
I hate to stoop and prop the stupid broom
against my shoulder while holding
the too small dustpan that won’t stay flush with the floor
letting the dust and sand and tiny particles
escape and hide
until you pull back an inch
over and over and over
and six more times
‘til I just don’t care anymore and leave the last little bit to get blown away
as soon as someone opens the back door

If I could someday, I’d fly away
pretending I am a little sparrow
flitting about
unobtrusive
with a happy little chirp

Instead I’m staring out the window
into the neighbour’s yard
while my shirt gets wetter and wetter
pressed up against the counter
stopping the water from reaching
my sopping wet feet
trying to decide
is the water warm enough to do one more pot?
even though I haven’t seen a single bubble
since 3 pots ago

And that’s why tonight I said
“Enough is enough! Everyone has to have a turn”
and he doesn’t like it
cause I should have said that 10 years ago
“Let’s do this together”
When love was so strong, he’d do anything for me
but love is quieter now
more routine
lovely but routine

That wasn’t what he signed up for
a wife making him do dishes
once a week
he likes his cushy spot on the couch
he probably thinks
“let’s not rock the boat”

Maybe tomorrow I’ll thank him
when I go to inspect the work he’s done
and overlook the spots and the things
I’m sure he’s left behind
for me to do
I guess that’s what I signed up for.

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in The Banister Anthology and Poetry Contest by the Canadian Authors Association Niagara Chapter 2022 as a Judge’s Choice

The post “Dishes” poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

The water pivots
one moment serene
being pulled
from the space above
then pivots
into freefall
like thousands of its friends
all launching themselves
from the safety of the plane
to the freedom of the air
as they skydive down
to their next adventure
tumbling as they land
not on hard earth
but into the pool below
tossed under the surface
then floating serenely on
until pulled once more

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Minnow Literary Magazine 2022

The post “Waterfall” poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

The rice began to squirm

tiny almost imperceptible movements

playing tricks on my fragile mind

precariously perched on the edge

of a terrestrial sidewalk

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in Versification Ezine 2021

The post “Unhinged” Poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

Small of stature
long dark hair
friend of a friend
a little forlorn
look in his eyes
that sadness it
penetrates deep into the soul

I drove by
He was standing there
against that wall
he peered into the car
I waved
Climb inside
Where do you want to go?
Do you need a ride?

I knew that street
that corner
standing against that wall
I knew those boys weren’t
peering into cars
looking for me
they were peering into
cars looking for ….

But this friend of a friend
Why him? Why there?
Do you have a place
to stay tonight?
No? That’s terrible!
Working the streets
no place to go
Have you eaten?
No? That’s terrible!
Working the streets
no place to go

I have a little food
I’ll share with you
and a couch
and a blanket
Stay with me tonight

But where is he now?
His name was Steve
I look for him
on that corner now
Where did he go?

His name was Steve
Don’t tell me things happen
No! That’s terrible!
Working the streets
no place to go

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Hamilton Mountain Writers Guild Anthology Volume V 2021

The post “His Name was Steve” poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

Silently I listen to the beating of my heart

the peace moves around me

flows through me

caresses my soul

gratitude envelopes me

then evolves into peace once more

my heart has been touched

and my soul has been healed

silently I thank the Lord

again, in the quiet of the night

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Brock University Unesco Poetry Contest Ebook 2020

The post “Peace” Poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

Row upon row

                        standing sentinel

wind swept snow covered

            feet firmly rooted

reverent heads bowed to the winter sun

ears stung by bitter cold

            cradled in brittle fingers

                                    hardened casualties of time

Forlorn heroes solemnly maintaining their rank

            fighting against the wind’s forceful blow

            never abandoning fealty sown in the field

a duty planted deep within the tilled soil

bravely thrusting up like new recruits

their sweet prize protected from every element

courageously loyal to the land

the seasons having stolen the victory

harvest is the last relief

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Niagara Community News 2010 and Brock University Unesco Poetry Contest Ebook 2020

The post “Guardians of the Land” poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

A shimmering blanket of snow

lays there peaceful and cold

enveloping the house in its chilly embrace

covered in little sparkling diamonds

its edges folded precariously over the eves

eagerly awaiting the opportunity to tumble

slowly crashing like a wave

in one swift motion

so it can smother the flowerbeds below

covering them until spring.

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Niagara Community News 2010

The post “Winter Blanket” Poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

I am the Light

            blazing down on the desert sand

            glowing florescent at the bottom of the ocean

            filling the night sky as a canopy of little diamonds

I am as tiny as a firefly

            and as powerful as a laser beam

I flood the stage with colour

and gently peek through the clouds

I prompt the birds to sing, warm the earth and wake the flowers

I gaze shyly over the horizon during the northern yuletide

I dry out the creek beds at the peak of the drought

I am  …the aurora borealis dancing across the northern sky

            the eerie calm that peers through as the eye of the hurricane

            the torch creating puppeteer shadows on bedroom walls

            the rainbow of colours reflected over the waterfall

            the lightening that strikes during thunderous summer storms

I keep the children awake on summer evenings that seem to last forever

I warm the sunbathing kitten in windowsill

            and dry the fresh laundered clothes on the line

I brighten the face of the moon and can be seen in the flicker of the candle

I tan your skin and bleach your hair

I am the sunrise and the sunset

I am the Light

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Hamilton Mountain Writers Guild Anthology Volume 3 Arising 2019

The post “I am the Light” Poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

I am the Earth

I am the desert oasis

            the rainforest jungle

            and the snow-capped mountains

I am the sand from which sandcastles are made

I am the stones over which the babbling brooks run

I am the prairie field out of which the thanksgiving is harvested

            my branches cradle the tree fort in my arms

my herbs give seasoning to the savory stew

my flowers are laid to rest on the open tomb

my evergreen holds the tinsel

my petals fill the vase

perfect pebbles skim across the surface of the water

majestic mountains rise up from out of the sea

I am the aroma of lilacs and cherry trees blossoms in the spring

            the feeling of warm mud oozing between toes in summer

            the sound of the crunch of dried fallen leaves in autumn

            the sight of boughs bending under the weight of the storm in winter

I am the Earth

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Hamilton Mountain Writers Guild Anthology Volume 3 Arising 2019

The post “I am the Earth” Poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.

I am the waves

sweeping gracefully across the pond

            tossing the storm swept seas

rolling over the vast ocean

constant like the rising and setting of the sun

pushing with the pull of the moon

I crash upon the rocks during a stormy night

or lap against the lakeshore on a gentle day

I rise to great heights when hit by the force of a quake

or ripple when struck by skimming stones

I tumble over the edges pushed by toy boats in the middle of the tub

I can capsize a handcrafted canoe

            sink a millionaire’s yacht

            or shorn apart a majestic tall ship

My tides cover all in their path and recede to reveal even the tiniest treasures

my sounds can sooth

my strength can drown

my power can be harnessed

I bring excitement to those seeking the thrill

I bring fear to those caught unaware

I bring peace to those seeking solace

I am the waves

Original poem by Laura Lane, First published in the Hamilton Mountain Writers Guild Anthology Volume 3 Arising

The post “I am the Waves” Poem by Laura Lane first appeared on Laura Lane.