Rinse and Repeat

Let the faucet run.

The water will be hot in a minute.

Start a little music, like a tiny

chorus of angels singing, so sweet.

Can we believe in angels anymore?

Wouldn’t they laugh at us?

Soap and running water, wash,

rinse, and repeat. Breathe.

Listen to the music, sweet music.

See the stacks? A mug, a plate,

a spoon, lipstick stains, a bit of egg,

a piece of bone.

The shower head leaks. Should have

fixed it weeks ago… Wrinkled hands,

floating oils, and suds. And if the plates

should fall? Listen to the music,

sweet music. If only I. If only they.

How long until the sink rusts?

This plate here, with the daisy-chain

on the rim and a chip on the edge:

will it ever stay clean? Listen

to the music, sweet music. Tomorrow.

Always tomorrow. Always already tomorrow.

Wash it all again tomorrow.

Mugs tomorrow, spoons tomorrow, plates

tomorrow. Music tomorrow. Angels.

But no lipstick stains, tomorrow.