He’s at it again.

In the midst of this
Sleepy little sitting room,
He stands awkwardly
Beside the coffee table—
Bare-legged.

His pants are a heap
At his ankles.
His trembling hands feel for a
Shirt-button.

One minute more,
And the humming little
Sitting room will fall
Silent and wide-eyed
At his nonchalant
Nudity.

Quick! Let’s get him back
To his room.

A stumbling, bewildered child,
He is hurried down the
Hallway that never seems to
End.

Halfway between here and there,
Lost in the hallway between two rooms,

A tiny smile flashes across
His frustrated face.
He chuckles, and submits
To being led to his room.

The door flies open;
He is rushed inside.
Ah! At last he has arrived.

Looking at him,
And catching his eyes,
I cannot stop myself
From smiling.

He knows,
And I know,

That, still…
He is half-undressed.

Andrea Roberts
College of Medicine