A good buddy of mine on Facebook who is a poet recently posted a challenge to write a poem titled “The Cure for Spare Time.”
I don’t claim to be a poet, or to even know anything about poetry, but it sounded like fun, so I decided to try my hand at it. I actually had a lot of fun working on it, coming up with the rhythms and rhymes, and making it all fit. It’s very different trying to create a word-picture of what I was thinking without it being boring, and all the other things that we as writers do when we write prose, but fitting it all into the format of a poem.
I’m sure there are plenty of poets out there who can tell me all the things I did wrong, and all the ways it could be better, but I had a good time working it out and challenging my brain to do something a little different from what I normally do.
So, without further ado, I give you…
The Cure for Spare Time
Laundry sits on the floor
Waiting to be folded
Leftovers in the fridge
Soon they will be molded
On the floor a death trap
Made of doll and lego
No time to pick it up
It’s off to school we go
Time to drag a toddler
Up and down the aisle
Praying that this one time
She won’t act like “that child”
Pass up a sale on shoes
The kids need food instead
Finally back home now
But I forgot the bread
Need to feed the baby
It’s already past time
Maybe if I’m lucky
A nap is next in line
Finally a minute
To stop and breathe some air
No time to do much else
Except to brush my hair
Off to get the boys now
From a day of learning
Tried to take a shortcut
Shouldn’t have tried turning
And I’m late once again
An all-too-common thing
Not much time at the park
So the kids can swing
Homework, chores, family time
Before we’re off again
A doctor and a dentist
To bring us all some pain
Dinner all together
Was once a special treat
Now the kids are lucky
They even get to eat
Brushing teeth, jammies on
The house is still a sight
But finally it’s quiet
The rest ain’t worth a fight
Hubby plants some kisses,
A smack upon my butt
That used to lead to something
I don’t remember what
Pooped, I fall into bed
Thinking of a friend
Said she had time to spare
With me she’d like to spend
Why can’t I take a break
To do something with her?
Better use of my time
Would make it work, she’s sure
She can, and so can I,
So she often bids
I just smile to myself
She ain’t got no kids.
The New Authors Fellowship 
You did very well for “not being a poet.’ Made me laugh!
What fun! I remember those days.
I remember this poem. It’s not been all that long ago that it dance inside my head. Hugs, Avily.
fabulous!! 😀
Hilarious! Great job! I’m no expert on poetry my own self, but as far as I’m concerned you did your job and that’s what’s important! 😀
Good job, Avily! And it all so true :P.
I love it!! It’s a great poem {and I was an English major for a time….got an awful lot of credits for writing classes!} and so, so true! A+!!
Great job Avily! Of course you left out Castle Age (hee hee) –this sounds very similar to what my lovely wife (mother of 3) tells me is a typical day, looking forward to reading more of your work! 3:)