At the end of the harrowing day where life has collided with the world

for eight energy~sucking,

                   strength~sapping,

                              enthusiasm~draining hours,

the craving need to crawl homeward, to seek shelter, is paramount.

To ratchet my quivering remains up the Everest stair and

catapult myself into the safety net of home usurps

                             my remaining reserves of nerves.

A respite of heavy breathing to restore some semblance of humanity

is required before I can propel myself to the bathroom where,

     draping my diminished essence over the edge of the tub,

I clutch the hot water spigot and wrench it to the “on” position.

Clouds of refreshing steam engulf me as I peel myself

like a limp banana and slither into porcelain awash with waves

                            of fragrance~laced water,

there to uncrimp each sobbing muscle,

                   release each knotted nerve,

                            relax each traffic~jammed joint

until, with a sigh of pure unadulterated pleasure, I sink slowly

                                into an oblivion of bubbles,

                                        senses a~tingle with new life.

When the numbness has subsided and I am human once more,

I pull the plug and let the sloughed snakeskin of living

                                       swirl

                                         down

                                            the

                                              drain.