Oops!

The problem is 

she thought she was helping,

doing something nice for me,

and for her dad.

‘You can take the laptop

into the nursing home,’ she said, 

‘And watch all these

wonderful movies together.’

The problem is

I’m five days into my billing period

and now, for the rest of the month,

the service has been slowed.

I’ll have to wait a while

to see last night’s ‘New Tricks’

that I missed, on iView. I hope 

I can still work the blogs.

The problem is

after the slowing began

the movies didn’t 

completely download.

All that for nothing!

When I can just as easily

and almost as cheaply

hire the DVDs.

The problem is

I didn’t see the warning emails

until this morning, too late 

(now that she’s gone back home).

The dreadfulness of our task

had me retiring early to cry,

her staying up late on the net

to distract herself.

The problem is

he keeps saying 

he wants to come home

and I wish that too, but it can’t be.

And so we seek for ways

to help him, and help me too,

enjoy the new life

we have to have.

The problem is much bigger

than a slow internet connection

for about three weeks

and a few useless downloads.

(Meanwhile I sit here 

in the warm dressing-gown 

she bought me; money in my wallet, 

and a fridge full of food — bless her!)

April PAD Challenge #28: A problem

(Yes, I can still work my blogs.)

Also submitted for Poets United's Poetry Pantry #98