Starfish at 9 AM

Alternating
Laughter & arguing
echo across the house
waking me up
at an ungodly hour
9 AM
a starfish in bed
splayed out, trying to cool off
my sweating potato self
in this toaster of a room
listening to their teasing
and scolding
one another
while going about
their morning
Feeling like the villain
for even entertaining the notion
of stomping downstairs
and interrupting
No energy, anyway
But as I absorb
their random banter
and grown-up conversation
about life, as usual
and unusual
I smile to myself
goofily, knowing
that despite their blow outs
and all the hardships
they've ever faced
this is the music
of bonafide
practical
realistic
non-fairy tale
romcom, or romance novel 
love