Deadlines

Books piled up on my bed

as if I have read them all

but most of them are only a signal

of my plan to complete a task

8 books, sprawled

across papers that need

to be filed

I lie to myself about my capabilities

too often; think I can finish things

on a timeline that does not work

but this is the way scholars live

their lives: one writing/researching

lie at a time

And sometimes,

the deadlines

are met.

© Valerie Bridgeman

January 20, 2013