THE ROUTINE: FIRST DOWN THE STAIRS

by Darren C. Demaree

Hands in her slippers, my wife
who always guesses
that she fell asleep for a bit

upstairs with one of the children,
descends to the couch
like a comet finding Earth

for the first time.
I have picked
a game or a movie
& before she can ask me

what I’m watching she is asleep
again next to me.
I want to touch
her, so I do, I gently drape

myself around her.
I am quiet.
I wrap all of my scars in layers
of her.
I ignore every plot.

I wait for the dogs to figure out
she’s downstairs.
I give my place
to them.
I know this floor

is the best place to be tonight.