Haven

She must delicately
But firmly tell her 31-year-
Old husband his night teaching
Job is insufficient income and it is
Time for him to give up looking
For a full-time college position
And find a day job bringing
In money for their family.
She cleverly picks her
Husband’s favorite
Hamburger joint
Airport Haven
As the site to
Gently insist
He concurs
And find
A day
Job.
She is
Older and
Much wiser and,
Though he works
Diligently, he agrees
She is right and it is time
He gave up his search for a
Day teaching job and look for
Someplace to make money which
His day research, carpentry, various
Skills in electrical and lathe jobs do
Not provide, so he starts work for
The Historical Commission as
An archeological map maker
Creating a cartographical
Map file of sites in Texas.
Then a year later he
Begins work for
The precursor to
TXDOT, learning
Transportation
Planning from
The bottom
Up while he
Still spends
Nights at
ACC as
An adjunct
Instructor of history
And whatever else he
Is asked to teach to
Bring in enough of
An income for the
Family to begin
Saving money
As a reserve
To meet the
Surprises
Families
Must
Face,
The fiscal,
Not airport
Haven, where
Economic storms
Can be ridden out in safety.
She is pleased he agrees
To start down this new
Career course and
Picks up one of
His fries to dip
In some red
Catsup
Holding
The fry up to
Her husband’s
Lips musing how
Food is another way
Of motivating husbands
And probably thinking
Of what she will add
To her grocery list
And what cloths
Are absolutely
Necessary
For their
Kids
While
She shops
At the Good Will
And always looks
Attractive as well as
Sophisticated as a
Secretary at UT
Rising in pay,
Serene in
Peril, all
For her
Family.