Backwards Momentum

DAILY SNACK

She gets up on her knees and starts rocking.

She’s reaching forward,

Eyes focused on that toy.

The harder she tries,

The more she wants to crawl forward,

The further back she pushes herself.

She cries.

***

I change the garbage cans.

I bundle it all up tightly,

And put it on the back deck.

Garbage strike,

So I’ll have to drive it to the temporary dump site tomorrow.

The racoons tear open the bags,

And leave trails of garbage all over the deck.

***

I know baby girl.

The harder we try,

The further backwards we move.

I feel your pain.