Sitting at my desk creating policy
knowing that the day moves on without me.
Pressure building-
timelines looming-
fingers fumble hitting the ‘delete’ key.
My neck hurts, there’s something in my eye.
Words won’t come no matter what I try.
I won’t risk a look
won’t check Facebook,
I wanted to rest today- feel like I’m gonna cry.
The sun is out, there’s laundry still to fold.
I’ve made coffee then let it get stone-cold.
I think just some more water
or maybe call my daughter?
Stop it and sit down! -shrieks my inner scold.
Why is it so hard to capture every thought
and record them in the way I know I ought?
There’s too much, can’t keep the pace.
Overwhelmed, the ideas race
too quickly; they are refusing to be caught.
C’mon- you can do it, just write this stuff down.
(Should I dye my hair red, or keep it brown?)
Stop the daydreaming stall-
this day won’t just crawl;
minutes rush so loudly they make Silence drown.
I know that there’s a lot now on my plate.
Multi-tasking is a most enduring trait
Take a breath, now; feel calm settle
then push pedal to the metal
grab that outline, open program, and- hey; wait.
What was that flash? There! Against that patch of sky!
That brilliant color quickly moving caught my eye.
Before I even wrote a word
I was distracted by this bird.
This is hopeless, why do I even try?
Resolute now, I decide to make this post.
Get out the fidgets before this day is toast.
Buckle down and get to work,
ignore distractions, let them lurk!
And one by one work through the tasks that matter most.
-Judey Kalchik
June 2020
Pocket Change 