A POEM BY R. STEPHEN
Lying motionless on a dusty hardwood floor.
Wooden kitchen sets containing wooden food tower above.
A stuffed toy lodged underneath the resting torso.
Plastic figures peer from underneath the armchair.
The dim light from the kitchen reveals the grey, lifeless hallway.
Vegetables in tepid water rest on top of the gas stove.
Breadcrumbs and stale milk litter the worksurfaces;
while a leaning tower of dirty pots emerges from the greasy sink.
The mind wanders to the ocean of fabric spanning the bathroom floor.
Dried tomato stains share a canvas with mud and hardened egg yolk.
A trail of tiny socks climbs the staircase,
denim jeans and sweaters lie neglected beside the laundry basket.
Fresh from the bathwater, the children rest unburdened in their beds;
dreaming not of the fallen parent who fights for their happiness and security.
Prompted by the clock’s chime, the figure slowly rises from the cold floor.
About This Poem
Burn Out: A Quiet Portrait of Exhaustion and Devotion
Burn Out is a stark, domestic‑scene poem that captures the hidden collapse of a parent pushed beyond their limits. Set inside a home overflowing with toys, laundry, dishes and the debris of everyday life, the poem uses vivid environmental detail to mirror emotional fatigue. Every room becomes a testament to overwhelm: dusty floors, stale milk, tepid vegetables, tiny socks scattered like breadcrumbs of responsibility.
The poem’s strength lies in its stillness. The central figure lies motionless, surrounded by signs of relentless duty, yet the children — freshly bathed and peacefully dreaming — embody the love and purpose that keep the parent moving. This contrast between physical burnout and emotional devotion creates a powerful tension at the heart of the poem.
Leave a Reply