Soldier On

Oh no!
Not again!
I’ve let my guard down
Look at him
He’s tsk tsk-ing
And tut tut-ing
His look of disappointment
to the bone is cutting
I didn’t mean
to not live up
to his expectations
A half empty cup
He’s standing watch
Always standing by
Always girding and guarding
With an eye-roll and sigh
“She’s done it again!”
he says exasperated
“Why does she do this to me?”
“This job is over-rated!”
But each morning
he goes and gets
his trousers and coat
with its epaulettes
and shines his shoes
and dons his helmet
and assumes his position
but sometimes I forget
what he wants from me
and I’ll see him frown
and I’ll think “oh no!”
“I’ve let my guard down!”
Again.