There’s far too much to do,
and unrealistic expectations
breed a weekly contempt.
This is the ritual, the chiding,
the self-knowledge that proves
awareness doesn’t always act.
In fact, the browbeating lessens
over time, if only because
life demands attention, and
not according to best intents.
Breathe deep and manage
to smile at that stack ignored.
Resolve yourself to accept
your inability to achieve it all.
We are not machines, not yet,
and thus experience affords
the illusion of freedom
from plans and agendas,
a temporary respite,
apology as alibi, reassuring
that the work unfinished
will somehow someday
still manage to get done.

© by Gary Glauber.
Used with the author’s permission.