It snuck in yesterday
and made a thorny nest
in my chest,
scratching at my skin
and turning my thoughts
to mud
and in the middle
of all the snot
and my tongue
numb as a slug
my husband drove across town in the rain
picked them up from school
and took her to gymnastics
even though I promised I would
and then kept the kids quiet
so I could sleep.
It sounds small
but I don’t want
roses or rings.
It’s these moments
of kindness
in marriage
that has logged
so many years
that make me flutter
and swoon.