Now we retire early

Before last summer
Fall evenings had routine
We would finish supper
Them clearing the table, while she talked and I served cake or pie or scones
Sit on the brown bear, just right, no goldilcoks in sight
Couch
Read in front of the fire until eight or so
Wrestle little one gently into the bath
Smile as they, well she, took out the bottle of
Red, ruby, cherry, cherub wine
Watch the Good Place, or Parks and Rec, or Project Runway
He would drift off after a few hours
Pace back and forth between the freezer, the couch, the bathroom
Until the ice cream container was dry
She would continue sipping, taking slightly longer sips every time
She looked at him
Or me
I read my book
It wasn't perfect 
But I was up, late late late, late, 
And with them
Now, we do our own dishes
Three sets, not four anymore
We shut ourself in our respective rooms
I watch a series of unfortunate events, 
The dissapearence of Jon Benet Ramsay
And documentaries about the sad, sad lives of cosmetic company lab rats
I'm asleep, or rather
Aided to sleep by mother-and-fatherly small green capsules
By nine
And I don't dream, at least nothing I would like to remember
We used to stay up, lounging, lying, laughing, 
Late
Now we retire early