Despair

Crying in the corner,
fingering a knife,
she wishes she knew how to be
a better mom and wife.

The laundry's in the hamper,
waiting to be done,
the kids are outside playing
in the summer sun.

The dishes on the counter
are dirty as can be
and dinner isn't ready
at seven fifty-three.

Toys are scattered on the floor
in every single room
and the kitchen floor looks as if
it's never seen a broom.

Her husband's in the shower
cooling from the fight.
He doesn't feel bad at all,
because he knows he's right.

He has a right to think,
that she should do her part.
He's unaware or doesn't care
how bad his words can smart.

As she pictures plunging,
the knife into her heart
The door bangs quickly open
giving her a start

She turns to see the one who,
intrudes upon her space
and there she sees her oldest
a puzzled look upon his face.

"Mommy please don't cry now.
Whatever can be wrong?
If you promise me a smile,
I'll sing a little song."

And as the child sings to her
the mom forgets her woes,
goes back to chopping vegetables
then laundering the clothes.

Her son is not as scared now,
because she starts to smile.
Then hum the tune he sang to her
for a little while.

But hubby's still not happy,
to have it end this way
he waits until his child has gone,
back outside to play.

"You know what really gets me?
What do you do all day?
I work and work and work and work,
but all you do is play.

You shouldn't be a mother,
you shouldn't be a wife.
You're really good for nothing,
but ruining my life.

I come home wanting dinner,
it isn't ready yet.
The house is trashed
how much worse can it get?

If you're not going to clean,
I'll throw it all away.
I'll tell the kids it's your fault,
when they want their toys to play.

Yes they may love you now but
I can tell you what.
They'll hate you when they're older
I have no doubt of that.

You breathe in air
and you take up space
but do nothing to deserve it
you're nothing but a waste."

She is no longer smiling,
and tears well in her eyes
but she blinks until they go away,
he will not see her cry.

She finishes the dinner and
cleans up all the toys
and puts a load of laundry in
before calling in the boys.

They all sit down to dinner,
she tucks them into bed
and plants a gentle mother's kiss
upon each and every head.

But when it all is finished,
she takes a length of rope
and knots it in a noose because
she simply cannot cope.