Studio Renee

Warm light greets me as I walk to the front door
singing voices from the tv, on
and my dinner floats to my nose
from the window, cracked, 
sending a sliver of an invite to anyone passing

when I come home to laundry laying lazily on the clothes line
books and papers tossed aside carelessly but
so intentionally life-life and 
perfectly crafted, haphazard toothbrushes
bottles of shampoo arranged just so

sweet it is to see 
like when a trail of water and soap bubbles follow me
leaving little breadcrumbs as evidence
on the tile floor
when I step out of the bath and my feet 
pitter patter pop the bubbles as I walk

I am an artist and I work hard to ensure
that when I come home 
we come home
I paint my portrait a little each day
slow brushstrokes of mismatched socks 
and slept-on pillows
you will always come home because
I work hard so 
you're never home alone





Originally written 10/31/17, published and updated 1/19/24
©2024 by Renee Salmon