(this may be a bumpy ride)
it's like when you're on an airplane
and the captain has put on the fasten seatbelts sign
all you want to do is take out your laptop
or pee
and you can't
so you do something else
read a book talk to your neighbor stare out the window
but really all you are doing is thinking about that
fasten seatbelts sign
it's not actually flashing but it is flashing in your head
demanding your attention
and will not let you do what you desperately want to do
having a baby is like that
in the back of your head is a little sign flashing
take care of me take care of me take care of me
whether she's playing or peeing or crying or eating
or even just sleeping
you know you're on duty and so the sign
never. goes. off.
blink blink blink blink blink
blink blink blink blink
blink blink blink blink blink
until you want to throw the sign
the baby
out the window
but I have learned a secret
if someone else is there
anyone else
watching the sign
then you can ignore it
do whatever it is that you desperately want to do
it's like magic
so the question is
who can I beg pay borrow demand con
into watching the blinking blinking blinking sign
tomorrow?