The Longest Day

7 PM

The day was exhausting, my energy zapped.

I got in my car, 30 minutes from home.

Traffic was hectic, I was caught in a jam.

An hour went past, don’t know how I stayed calm.

And the next thing you know, it started to rain.

8 AM

I drove to Pete’s Java for donuts and Joe.

I go there often before starting the day.

It brightens my outlook and settles my nerves.

If I am without it, get out of my way.

I got to the job and that started my pain.

9 PM

I arrived home at last, my wife wasn’t there.

Dinner was finished so I paid it no mind.

But as time passed by, there’s no phone call, no show.

My soul was in anguish for my better half

Because I had no idea where she could be.

10 AM

My boss came to me with the daily bad news.

“To finish the project, you’ll have to work late.”

I wanted to choke him, my hand on his neck.

He always does this, like he singles out me.

But I took a deep breath and just said, “O.K.”

11 PM

I looked out the window, the storm pounding hard.

I called her number but she would not respond.

So I called her sister, her mother, her friends.

No answer was coming, my worries took hold.

The hands on the clock seemed refusing to move.

12 Noon

The hours kept crawling, the papers piled high.

It seemed again I’d be working through lunch.

What kept me going was thoughts of my wife.

The thought of back home always keeps me alive.

But deadlines and meetings consumed all the day.

1 AM

Keys rattled the lock and the door opened wide.

My heart skipped a beat when she walked through the frame.

Her hair soaked from rain but her eyes full of light.

I asked her, “What happened? Are you in pain?”

“The battery died and the roads were a mess.”

2 PM

I went to the break room, I needed caffeine.

I had to stay woke for this day would not end.

I finished one job but more just kept coming.

My spirit revived with a call from my wife.

She made for dinner steak, mushrooms, and rice.

3 AM

She sat beside me with a blanket and tea.

The storm lost its voice while we both settled in.

She slept in the bed with the peace of a child.

I looked at her face and I smiled happily.

I married an angel, she’s God’s gift to me.

4 PM

Work piled on my desk with no way to finish.

I’d set it on fire if I had my way.

But I kept going strong with dinner in mind.

I’d not eaten much and my favorite was made.

If you had my wife’s cooking, you’d understand.

5 AM

Dreams were quite pleasant; I was flying through clouds.

My wife right beside me, her smile brought me joy.

We flew to Paris, to London, and Rome.

I’d fly her to the moon if she asked me to.

I heard the alarm, and then I woke up.

6 PM

Just about finished when I heard he had more.

I got up from my desk, ran ready to hide.

I smiled when the work went instead to Joe Green.

I finished my work. It all came to a stop.

It would not be long till it started again.