12 hour ritual

twelve hours in total
spread across the week
in the earth and grass
among the flowers
work all for the beauty
of hibiscus
in between the hazy world
of responsibilities
back inside with no shoes
a toering carefully removed
and placed in a small bowl
on the nightstand
left safe in a world
of pink porcelain
with a clean towel
from a drawer
two bare feet
now to the tub
placing it down
on the floor
alongside the tub
where water flow
from a showerhead
as one hand turns
descending to work
with and on
dirt beneath nails
in the folds
across plains of skin
of the soles
one hand grasping for soap
and returning to fingers
which slip between the toes
in seemingly random movements
yet so methodic in ritual
like what came before
slowly just shy of opaque
streams running clear
into clean feet shifting
over the porcelain wall
of the tub
and stepping out
onto the towel
previously placed
on the bathroom floor
to dry with a soft padding motion
and walking out to the bed
after hanging the towel up
taking a seat on the edge
to gently massage in
a dollop of tarragon oil
finally
out of its pink porcelain nest
a toering returning
completing the ritual