Midsummer Dream House

 
Mourning, Mid Afternoon

There is nothing like self-tyranny in the morning,
A heart and mind that cannot peacefully coexist
an accidental splash of the kettle water’s scald
the inescapable smell of wet dog
squish to peel are the last two bananas, ripe
chiquita brown skin ripened darker than mine
tumble dry piles of linens to fold
mean mugging the baby socks I need to match
little shirts     little pants     little food stains
the color of varicose veins
afternoon cat naps, declawed
by the words in an overheard song
tears rolling out like party streamers
decorating my fleshy cheeks
And to the tune of the Beatles hit,
I imagine writing out “HELP”
across the front lawn
in letters made out of Hefty bags
and household appliances
piles of dirty dishes
stained couch cushions
soiled wet diapers of leaking angst
hoping an overhead plane will see
my smoke signal tokes of longed escape
as my sanity begins to careen,
swallowed by the incorrect thoughts
I continue to perceive

 

Poetry by Nicholas Grooms

 

 

Nicholas Grooms is a poet, writer and musician hailing from Garden City, Kansas. He has appeared in such periodicals as Verse Libre Quarterly, Skyline Magazine, On Gossamer Wings and the Southwest Review (KS), though he is most well known for his work as a musician, creating music for the Kansas City Chiefs. Grooms currently resides in Austin, TX with his wife Sarah and their two children, forever learning and growing in his favorite role of “proud father.”