a little rest (2006)

at six am, i am with coffee
slapping children with buzzing hands
knowing she is behind me eating

i take the fork and
stick it into the butter
and watch her as she does not react

what am i? a nose ring or
a parachute in a thunderstorm.
am i dangerous or useless or
am i just a man?

i turn and beg for just a little more,
a little more of the same