Ring of Hell

There’s a certain ring of hell

That most parents know,

It’s called being sick

With your sick kids home, in tow.

 

Forget water-boarding

As torture for you see–

There are things that are worse;

Two sick kids under three.

 

Infect perpetrators

With a cold or a flu,

And then lock them in a house

With two toddlers, sick too.

 

They’ll be spilling state secrets

And begging for respite.

You will hear them sobbing

Late into the night.

 

For how do you rest

Or drink tea or recover?

When two snotty, crying children

Above your face hover?

 

When all of you are sobbing

And covered in snot,

When TV isn’t enough

To make screaming stop.

 

When the hours won’t pass

And the clocks have all stopped,

And you’re all wearing pajamas

Covered in shit dropped.

 

When you think you may lose it

When you think it’s the end,

Just know there are others out there–

You have a friend.

 

All mommies and daddies

Have been there before.

We’re in this together…

It’s our parental war.