The Kitchen

Let such a day come to me too in this life,
when there's no rush to wake from sleep,
no obligation left to make breakfast,
when someone will sit with breakfast ready,
waiting for me to wake.

When I stir from sleep, they'll say in a voice soft with affection,
Hey, come have your breakfast!
Or perhaps even that won't be needed,
no one need prepare breakfast for me at all,
let someone just give me the chance
to live naturally!
Let someone give me at least one such day
when I won't have the leisure to worry
about anyone beyond myself.

I've truly forgotten when I last
spent an entire day completely as I pleased...
If this life ever offers me such a chance,
if I ever find work where I can simply slip in
and be free from the kitchen for a lifetime,
I'll grab that work without hesitation, eyes closed!
Whatever else I may or may not get, at least I'll live
an entire life the way my heart desires!

What uncivilized brute made this rule
that women must shoulder the kitchen's full burden!