Daddy,

Permanent creases make a home beside your eyes 

And distract from what was once an icy blue gaze

You promised yourself any wrinkles would be temporary,

But your stress seeps in, a stealthy move,

Widening those indentations

 

You have realized long ago

That your early mornings end in late nights

No breaks

No sleep

Your dedication becoming the true "insomniac"

Endless hours consume you

Pepper your hair with silvery strands

But you clock in and out just the same

"It isn't fair" I decide

But my words won't change anything

You'll still work late, cradling the thought of us choosing a future

A future more balanced than yours

 

I wonder how that feels

Supporting our big family, working endless hours

I stare at my ceiling, contemplating it

Snug in my bed,

Clean

Unbothered

But awake,

Aware of the familiarity of keys jangling

I sense your exhaustion with

Each

      Shushed

                 Step

And all I can do is ponder over

Your selflessness

And soak in the inspiration provided

 

What I would give to see you sleep longer

Snug in your bed

Clean and unbothered like me

 

But in the meantime

I ready myself for the battle you face

When my mornings will turn into late nights

While my child lays snug, waiting for the jangling of keys

I'll be their inspiration

As you were to a much younger version of me

Because the night shift is simply inevitable