‘Rona Redux

The former nanny babysat last week.
She’s trusted but there may have been a lapse.
She wasn’t feeling perfect, didn’t seek
a test except at home (they’re known for gaps).
That evening took her to the hospital.
The ER staff found out the causative
was kidney stones that had her feeling ill,
but Covid testing there was positive.

And now the family is stuck inside.
The parents are attempting not to blame
the sitter they’ve long liked and have relied
upon for months of care. I won’t exclaim
or even try correcting that perspective.
They’re stressed, and my advice won’t be effective.

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In 1854

In 1854, conditions met
low expectations. City health was poor.
The gutters teemed with filth and rife was debt
in 1854.

Most lives were hard, with vermin having more
than populations starved and stunted, fret
with grief and squalor, mangled, tangled, sore.

My recourse now is trying to forget
the present, future dashed, the end in store.
That’s why I’m reading all these novels set
in 1854.

(Roundel)

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Listening

I listen closely to my body now.
I give it extra morning time to tell
me what it wants and where it aches and how
it needs to rest or move to feeling well.
Today I shuffled early in a spell
of near decrepitude in back and knee.
I gave myself two hours, woke each cell,
and rode my bike endowed with energy.

(Huitain)

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Avo Bath

There was no actual calamity –
a canceled train one way, and coming back,
computers down and signs no one could see,
while in between my sleep was short and slack.
I witnessed toddler tears, frustrated glee,
and tired parents’ optimism black.
I made it home. I stripped though I was clean,
and stepped into a bath I bombed with green.

(Ottava Rima)

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Mama Don’t Praise

My brother gave up cigarettes at last.
He’s over 60, overweight, in need
of exercise, and feeling it. He’s past
excuse and now he wants his breathing freed.
He proudly told our mother he’d succeed.
If she knows how to nurture, she forgot,
responding “Yeah, but are you smoking pot?”

(Rhyme Royal)

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Screenshot

Ignoring most the ads that introduce
or interrupt the games I didn’t buy,
on rare occasions optics will induce
me to look closer. Something caught my eye
last week – a bunch of letters made me spy
and pick the word I found in the array.
I wonder: was that marketing? And why?
I offer it to other brains today.

(Huitain)

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Potential Energy

Perhaps it’s untimely to counsel you now,
but I can’t suppress my emotions.
You’re full middle-aged, and of course you know how
to live – you don’t need any notions
from mother or father – not even from spouse –
each may be a foe you’re evading.
But now is the season to exit the house
where drudgery love has you fading.
Potential must grow to kinetic at length,
or wither without good production.
I know you and urge you to harness your strength,
and flourish beyond love’s obstruction.

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Iris Seeds

I planted iris seeds. Now will they grow?
I understand that rhizomes are the way
they’re propagated mostly, but I know
it’s possible, or so the experts say,
to let seeds germinate a month or so,
protected from conditions that decay.
They reproduce in nature from their seeds –
I’ll take that lesson for my private needs.

(Ottava Rima)

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Incurable

I tell you, it’s humbling – this processing years.
I used to be sturdy and durable.
But now I bruise easily, doddering nears,
and I know the slide is incurable.
It’s fortunate no one needs means – all my dears
are solvent and I’m not insurable.
But maybe I’ll land on a level plateau
and rally for more – I don’t know.

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The Childproof Cap

It isn’t just the way my fingers bruise –
the slightest bump will mark my skin – a key
that’s stubborn twisting will abuse –
but too I note their strength abandons me.
I’ve trouble turning caps. So please excuse
my teaching what he wasn’t meant to see.
He watched me work to open vitamins,
and now your son’s empowerment begins.

(Ottava Rima)

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