i am the abandoned half-full coffee cup

i am the practiced movements of diaper changes in the dark

i am the lullaby

       sung in a whisper to the click click click of the rocking chair

i am the exasperated frown

i am the Wyatt Earp giver of time outs

i am the unkempt, unslept, unwashed mother

i am the bag full of snacks

   and the wiper of noses

i am the prayer uttered at 5:02 please lord just five more minutes

i am the curse word uttered at 5:08

i am the healer

i am the tylenol and bandaids

i am the kisser of all manner of injuries, a universal salve

i am the storyteller and the lap

i am

    really just doing my best.