Poe@Tree

sittin' on the couch, lemon bars are bakin',
watchin' old movies, on the Family Channel.
spouse's
              heavy
                        breathing
                                       tellin' me
                                                     it's late.
the lemon bars are coolin', so I write a bit,
and wait.
six months
                 unemployment
                                        is tellin' me
                                                         it's late.
exposed dust and boxes, empty shelves,
empty space exposes our short sale state.
a boat
          becomes
                        our home
                                       as we face
                                                        our fate.
midnight clock is tickin', I sit up late to watch,
Congressionl dickerin', jobs and jobless wait.
friends
           hopefully
                         wish us
                                     Happy
                                                New
                                                        Year!
avoiding thoughts of self doubt, I sit up late,
denying doubts, I read online job postings.
each
        HR wishlists
                          belittles
                                      decades of
                                                        hard work.
in the dark I face the possibilities, career's end,
career change, limitations, personal fiscal cliffs.
spouse's
             heavy
                       breathing says,
                                    "Cease dark thoughts,
                                                      eat a lemon bar!"