The List

Before she left on her trip,

the dog and I 

received a very detailed 

list of chores 

that she should find completed

upon her return.

After placing her bags

in the trunk of the car,

we gave heartfelt good-byes 

as she drove off 
to her next great adventure.

Try as we might,
the list produced
no such sense of urgency 

in either the dog or myself.

We looked at the list,

we looked at each other,

and the unspoken decision

on our plan of action

was immediate and unanimous:

Nap Time.

We accomplished this task
that had been mysteriously
left off the list 

without encumbrance or delay

as we left our chores

for another day and rested

with dreams of our
next great adventure.

Ken Owen   Van Niddy Press   January 2014