These Little Things

Sometimes it would seem

As though the simple act

Of winding your clock

Is harder than it is

That finding the one

Chirping smoke detector

Among seven others

Is an impossible task

That keeping up with

The air filter

Change schedule

Is irritating and pointless

Never mind

That one-half

Of our household

Is dreadfully allergic

Never mind

That you stocked

Our home with batteries

And air filters

(And we are

Just now

Running out

After fourteen months)

Never mind

That the clock only requires

A key and barely

Any of my time

I feel sorry

For myself anyway

Because these

Were your jobs

And you are not here

To take care of

These little things

(Or us)