DOMESTIC WOE

it's the coldest winter I can remember
and my dad is sleeping in his van

sometimes down by the lake
sometimes up north on a side street

I have a new habit
of dreaming about kitchen cabinets
and flooring - not even tile, just fresh linoleum

when I need a change
I put clean sheets on the bed
I get big art books at the library
and put them on the coffee table
for three weeks at a time

my dad laughed about how hard it is to stay awake
when the sun sets at 4pm and you're living in your van

when it gets dark I wonder what he's doing
and start making dinner

DOMESTIC BLISS

I keep saying it as a joke but not a joke
like a hashtag
I've been like this before
turning the heat up
putting on more lotion
finding the right jar for the job.
what's more satisfying --
bringing home the thing you need (for a good price)
or boxing up the thing you don't need
and taking it away?
whatever happens we say it might be the last time
and that makes us happy
like when we were kids and time meant
nothing and everything
but we couldn't grasp it.
always lowering a basket out the window
or climbing a tree like we were trying.
now we're here between flannel sheets
heart swelling to start a load of laundry
or drink a cup of coffee while watering the plants .