Stupid Guilt

I feel guilty about feeling guilt about stupid things.

I could scrub the basement stairs

I think as I step up

Each tread is partly peeling

From the gray-pocked surface

What else

do I feel guilty about

not doing?

Paint the living/dining room

The baseboards

Replace the felt under each

Leg of the table and chairs

Dust surfaces that need

De-cluttering first.

Cook, bake, store for the

Week to come

Be economical

Plan for Thanksgiving

Save money

Vacuum out the car

(I hate the hair and crumb

Mixture)

Write in my journal

(Why did I stop?)

Cancel subscriptions

Visit Mom at least once a day

Call Dad (stop being petty)

Call my daughter in law

(Her homeland is without power)

Plan lessons

Prepare materials and copies

Three-hole punch them

Scan and attach

everything to the portal

Label things so I

Can find them again

Keep track of student

attendance/sickness

Have copies of their

make-up work

Double check grades

for parent teacher conferences

Iron clothes

Don’t buy any more shoes.

Stop noticing where

I fall short

or I feel incapable

while I’m too shy,

tired or uninspired.

While Gaza starves and dies

Under rubble

While supplies reach

North Carolina by mule

While China and Russia

Stir up unrest

Using algorithms against us

While nationalism and fascism

Are seeing the light of day

While my son disbelieves

All news media but

Watches YouTube channels.

And my daughter’s medication

May cause cancer

And everything has

Microplastics

The ocean currents are

changing

And the world is warming

Faster than predicted

So- I’m okay

With mismatched sheets

And pillowcases

Scratches on the wood floors

Glasses in the sink

Other pending chores

Because I have enough

And my heart can be full

With good people

And chrysanthemums,

marigolds,

Even though the

Fence needs replacing.