Alive

"I'll sleep when I'm dead" was
the answer I gave for
all my early mornings and late nights.

"No time to shave" because
I read another chapter or
sent another letter instead of
lingering over my face.

"No day off this week" because
we are taking kids to a ballgame
and that counts as "work,"
not "rest."

I shall be resplendent
dead,
well-rested
clean-shaven
world on hold for myself.

But until then
I shall be as I am:
sipping coffee
scratching prickly cheeks
blasting through the days of this life
graciously
dizzyingly
joyfully
alive.