it had been nearly six months. 
You weren't to know 
        (and it wasn't your fault) 
but I'd been in constant pain for weeks, 
and it was getting me down. 

On it, I blamed my limp libido 
and our absence of sex. 
In reality, it's a culmination of your irritating habits  
and my irritability. 

Why do you try to wind me up, 
when you know it will end in tears? 
Do you genuinely forget what I say - 
        or ask? 
And can you try to listen? 

I'm trying to get out of this mothering pattern 
        (and don't they always say: 
        "If you want something done,  
        get a busy person to do it."?) 

So can you help me by trying a little harder? 

Photo by Tanja Zöllner on Unsplash