i walk my puppy,
fight weekend grocery store crowds,
and bake a cheesecake


before 10 a.m.,
i cook raspberry compote
and finish laundry

by noon, i’m ready
to begin this Sunday cleanse
and climb out of here

the city beckons
(no, no—the world beckons
for another chance)

our democracy
and the fate of our future
rest with how we vote

(even though it’s cracked,
my daughter’s birthday cheesecake
is one of many)
let this election
be one of many chances
to give us all hope