Excerpt

[Robert]

Dealing with Chronic Fatigue

I understood, I said, her need
to have me understand
but even understanding, I explained, I'd be
outside her pain. That isn't fair!
she turned away and I reached out
to touch her, timidly. "Don't go away,"
--but she was gone. Her face
all spikes and iron grates.

I couldn't get through--I didn't try,
but fixed our supper, gave our eight-year-old
his bath, washed dishes
--all those every-evening-things that I could do
to pave a way to the next day
and then the day that followed that. And coming back,
the boy tucked in, took her uncertain thanks.