BROKEN DISH

I said nonchalantly,
“Hey, Hon I’ll do the dishes
for you tonight.”

“Noooooooooo!”
I realized
before the words hit her ears
I said the wrong thing again.

She said grindingly,
“For me, Hon?
Doing the dishes for me?
Didn’t you eat tonight?
Was I the only one
at the table?
Didn’t I do the shopping?
Didn’t I do the salad?
Didn’t I do the cooking?”

Slowly, very slowly,
I cleaned the kitchen,
putting things away.
As I quietly
put the dishes
in the dishwasher,
I could hear her
watching Jeopardy
without me.

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009