Addressed to the gods of unnecessary labors

Some say: to do the necessary task is greatness;

I say: do the least necessary thing first.

I don't want a frozen living room,

a room where nothing happens.

I don’t want my labors tied in string,

a prelate hovering over, declaiming.

I want a treasure I did not ask for,

the way I didn’t ask to be born.

I want your arms and legs to be happy;

I want my arms and legs to be warm.

I want us to lie there, while the sky overhead

vigorously, vigorously does nothing.

Copyright Credit: Sarah Ruhl, "Addressed to the gods of unnecessary labors" from 44 Poems for You. Copyright © 2020 by Sarah Ruhl. Reprinted by permission of Copper Canyon Press, www.coppercanyonpress.org.

Source: 2020