I really wish
you would stop telling me to take it easy
between the span of my
tenth and twelfth shots
on the evening.
Life doesn't take me
one day at a time.
Life fights and claws and kicks
like a sleepless newborn
made of glass shards and
rail road spikes
swaddled in ammonia doused rags.
so when I don't have the benefit of
wearing gloves or an apron or a cup or
the benefit of keeping it
at arms length.
Do not ask me to not do
the one thing I can
to protect myself
as I look after and care for
the only life I've got.
