To my busy, helpful wife

When I get home, I drink some tea
and write some would-be poetry
about my plans to change -
think more of others' needs.

Then you come back, weighed down
with bags of food you've bought,
and soon cook dinner for us all.
What clearer case of helpfulness than yours?

Perhaps I should stop trying to be deep
and follow your example - just be kind.

Or will someone, somewhere, need
these poems - this apparent waste of time?

— Robert Melliard, Dec 03, 2008

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Asturias, Spain

Favorite Poets: Chaucer, Shakespeare, Du Bellay, Metaphysicals, Petrarch, Dante, Baudelaire, Lorca, Becquer, Coleridge

Critiques

zarul

17 years 6 months ago

HI

I STILL dont have a wife, for im still a 16 years old teen. but i can see how kind, loving and benevolent your wife is, i hope that when the time omes for me to marry, ill be blessed with a wife like yours. This is a beautiful and adorable piece. HUG ZARUL

Robert Melliard

17 years 6 months ago

My helpful, busy wife

Hi Zarul, Many thanks for your comment. I was a bit sad that no one had reacted to this poem. As you say, I am very fortunate to have an altruistic partner who always bears me and our children in mind, and our friends and relatives too. I wish I could be more like her myself! I hope you are lucky enough to meet someone like that one day. Best wishes, Robert.

R.M.Shanmugam

17 years 6 months ago

Inteligently and nicely put

Inteligently and nicely put across your thought

Robert Melliard

17 years 6 months ago

Housewives,

Hi, Thanks for your comment. I believe that housewives (or occasionally househusbands) are often very altruistic people and that their daily labour is rarely valued as highly as it should be. Sometimes I remember the wonderful meals my mother used to cook and wish that I had thanked her more often for her painstaking work. Best wishes, Robert.

themoonman

17 years 6 months ago

Hi Robert...

liked your poem... it sounds like my own life... my wife understands the time I need to write... she handles much of the "home" stuff as well... we both work... but she gives much more than I do... much like yours... I like the way you write... there is an honesty about it that is very attractive... Richard

Robert Melliard

17 years 6 months ago

Honesty

Hi Richard, Thanks for commenting on this poem. Yes, I aim to be honest in my writing, because I use poetry as a way of trying to establish the truth about my own life and personality, in the hope that some readers may find they have something in common with my experience. I don't need to use a persona or imagine fictional situations because so many strange, sad or happy things seem to have happened to me over the years that there's plenty of material to work on. I'm glad you appreciate this attempted truthfulness. Best wishes , Robert.