Today is my husband’s birthday. I wrote him a poem. The poem came from a prompt from Georgia Heard during her Write Bites workshop with Ralph Fletcher. She shared Imperfection by Elizabeth Carlson. Elizabeth’s poem begins with the line “I am falling in love with my imperfections.” It’s a wonderful poem about accepting your faults. I turned my attention to the imperfections of our house. If you own your own home, you’ll understand. This week we had a water heater go out. Oh my, how we take hot water for granted until it’s gone.
Imperfection
after Elizabeth CarlsonI’m learning to love
the smell of dust gathering
in soft corners
how mold creeps in the crevices
of window sills.I’m finding joy
in the left behind sliver of soap,
stash of tea-stained cups,
single smelly sock.Our house has become a home
of imperfections. That door
never stays shut. That switch
doesn’t turn any light on.We are ignoring the leak
streaking the living room wall. I’d rather sit
next to you on the sofa,
make space for the dog between us,
talk about the day behind, the future ahead.Let the house be. Let the rain come.
Margaret Simon, 2025
Reflections on the Teche 
I can relate to the imperfections, leaks, random socks. It’s a gift to know what’s important.
I can relate to the imperfections, leaks, random socks. It’s a gift to know what’s important.
Such a tribute to your home, your husband… talking about the day behind, the future ahead…what a treasure to celebrate.
Oh, are all our light switches actually supposed to turn something on? I didn’t realize, haha! (Maybe I’m a little TOO accepting of the imperfections…) Thanks for this peaceful poem. I hope you have hot water now!
Oh, a lovely echo of Jane Kenyon – “Let evening come.” What a beautiful meditation on the reprioritizing of a life.
Oh what fun to read your poem. Love the image of sitting with the dog and letting the rain come in! I also have a light switch to nothing just holding a space for the future!
Oh, I would be so at home in your imperfections, Margaret. And I would welcome you to mine!
So many imperfections. We just fixed a leaking toilet (or a plumber did) and now we have to put our bedroom back together–because the water leaked into our bedroom. UGH!
I can’t like this comment. Sorry about the leak. What a pain to have to fix stuff.
This is what love is…isn’t it? Love the whole package with all the imperfections. It’s such a cozy, intimate poem. I love that you can put your love into words like this. What a lucky guy!
I don’t know who is luckier. He doesn’t write or read poetry, but in all other ways, he’s practically perfect.
Margaret, I so appreciate this poem. Thank you! I look around the room and see a couple of chairs covered in (non-matching) blankets for/because of the elderly pets, and it just makes me happy.
We have those too and I love the marks of love left behind by my dear dog Charlie.
It’s simply wonderful, Margaret! You’re giving us permission to love all about our home, even when it seems to bite back, like that water heater! It’s a love poem for your husband. I’ll keep my own list today from your inspiration!
I love this poem so much and those two ending lines are just perfect. The perfect birthday gift!
I love the way your house became the topic for your poem. I feel the love for your home and you husband, especially in the last stanza. Great job with the prompt!
Oh, I can so relate to this, Margaret. Love this.
What a gift! Both the poem AND the focus on the reality of love, with all its/our imperfections.