The Count

two-month countdown starts
pre-holiday pay knifing
how will we survive?

just as we once did:
a chef, errand-free weekends
(stay-at-home dad’s gifts)

two sides make all coins:
heavy sacrifice, workload
frantic rat race gone

we could count pennies
or we could count our blessings
we will see what counts

Tragic Advice

in the grand scheme, grin
because the pain of this day
buys future joy