For men and women who work for love and not financial gain

By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

Unvarnished

It takes a man
to do what my parent’s generation
deferred as “woman’s work.”

No minimum wage
cause and effect rewards
just salivating dogs
and pooper scoopers
the prolific
propagation of dirty laundry
the monotonous
mopping up of sweat

Vacuums sucking crumbs
from last nights stir fry
skin scrapped off hands
by Brillo pads
sinks of muddied dishwater

Mondays folding into Tuesdays
Wednesdays hanging
onto Thursdays
Fridays made into beds

The mind numbing repetition
wiping fingerprints from mirrors dripping spray cleaners
facets running water down drains

Deafening afternoon silence
filling plastic ice trays of isolation
wringing dust from rags into buckets
until you can see
the unvarnished face of love
floating in water

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Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes

Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).

Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)

• Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
• Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
• Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018