Talking to Myself

Sometimes keeping up with the Poem-A-Day challenge is really hard. Things get in the way and inspiration is hard to come by. So if you agree with the side of me that says this isn’t much of a poem, I apologize and promise to try harder tomorrow. If you like this one and want to give me credit for trying, then thank you very much for your kindness. (It is National Kindness Day, so you’re doing a great job!)

I told myself
you have to write a poem.
You can't chance losing momentum.
We all know how that goes—
remember what happened
with the exercise videos?
But I'm tired, I said.
I didn't fall asleep till 5 this morning,
and I've got a splitting headache. 
Put your butt in the chair and write, I said.
I ignored myself and took a nap instead.

Two hours later,
my headache was gone,
but inspiration hadn't taken its place.
I was diverted by checking the mail
and watching the birthday video from July
that my husband finally finished editing.

I told myself
you really need to write that poem.
Something—anything
is better than nothing.
So here I am,
talking to myself
and wondering if this counts
as poetry.
Not necessarily good poetry,
but poetry.
I vote yes,
but my other voice
isn't totally convinced.
We've decided to call it a draw,
and hope for better tomorrow.

~Elise Skidmore ©2025