She asks why I do it.
What’s to be gained
From the daily grind—
One step at a time—
The climb impossible,
Or so it often seems.
Most days I respond,
Even a smile or two,
An ever patient grin—
Determination at its core.
However, not this morning.
My will’s vanished,
And I can only yield,
Stop the clattering machine,
As if silence is a blessing—
My humble offer of peace.
Tomorrow, if possible,
I’ll take the day off,
Find something else
To occupy my mind.
Invite another soul along.
Yet should the dawn
Deliver any spare promise
The sun kindly offers,
I’ll make the work mine.
Work
February 1, 2026
Photo by Hong Zhao on Unsplash
February 2026
February 2026
Bart Edelman
Bart Edelman’s poetry collections include Crossing the Hackensack, Under Damaris’ Dress, The Alphabet of Love, The Gentle Man, The Last Mojito, The Geographer’s Wife, Whistling to Trick the Wind, and This Body Is Never at Rest: New and Selected Poems 1993–2023. He lives in Pasadena, California.
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