Reader Submissions

Another Day

by

Matt Hetherington

without speaking, without laughing

without my daughter

or my brothers, or my father

nobody else’s body

and no love

other than what i offer myself

a day without belief

but with the faith that what’s needed

will be present, or return

a day of easily managed pains

of no alcohol or chocolate

but enough money for that if i want

a day with more than enough sunshine

and an abundance of others’

beautiful music and exquisite thought

another day of superb vegetables

and genuine fruit and bread and nuts

and the unending magnificence of lentils

a day without tenderness or endearments

but plenty of quiet smiling, and the exact

right amount of easy, contented rest