Me Time

Susan is scrolling
Sitting in her SUV
Exhaust plumes behind
Straw on lips, iced latte sips
Johnny’s at his hobby now

Double tapped heart
Conceals the smiling faces
Friends she once loved
Seem so happy and fulfilled
“When is the last time we spoke?”

Notification
Someone else likes what you shared
Yes, Validation 
Attention or affection?
Desperate cravings, fill the void

Meticulously
scheduled, she does it all
She’s had it all
Hard work, dusty résumé
Two point five kids and a dog

Mansion, two million
Recently renovated
Kept clean by Maria 
Quiet, paid: she’s just like fam’ly
All these years, hardly know her

Rear view mirror shows
Daughter, a spitting image
Mimicking mommy
Phone in hand, shoulders hunched
Consuming and coveting

Advertiser’s dream
Bottomless pit of desires
Disposable cash
Targeted ads know them well
Can’t resist another good deal

Johnny’s almost done
He’s gotten entitled, rude
That’s normal, though. Right?
Shuts himself up in his room
What is he doing in there?

The sweet boy he was
Now a distant memory
X-box Live mean kid
Expletives and racial slurs
His hugs were so warm

Where’s Susan’s mister?
At the office late again
Let’s pick up dinner
Plastic containers for all
It’s so easy, we’re busy

Busy, so busy
Unpaid labor, kid taxi
We need volunteers
PTA, Church, Baseball snacks
Room mom, binge watch a rom-com

Doesn’t want to think
About the obligations
This is her me time
Turn it all off for a while
Scrolling, searching. What’s missing?