Mansard Roof

The young academic asks me why I am not writing
and I tell him that
too many things are getting in the way.

"That's a shame"
he says.

"Well, it means that I have time to do the ironing"
I reply.

"That doesn't seem like a very good swap"
he comments.

I think of all that I have still got to write
and I can't help agreeing with him
but I say
"Maybe...
but I think it is what I need to do right now."