Character Sketch

She storms the doctors’ office when they fail to call her back,
although there hasn’t been a long delay.
She reads her own anxiety and goes on the attack,
and won’t attend to anything we say.
“What’s wrong with it?” she’ll challenge. “I just really need to know.
Why, anyone would do the same as me.”
And honestly, it’s not her age – it’s neediness she’ll throw
ahead and over equanimity.
“That’s just the way I am,” she’ll state, if she responds at all.
But “Can it!” is her likelier reply
if anyone should dare to ask or comment. She won’t fall
for conversation. She would never try
to modulate, to empathize, to righteously recall.
Apologize? We think she’d rather die.

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Looking Ahead

Composing lines 8 days before I fly,
I wonder if the future will conform
to present expectation. Likely I
will feel okay (the weather not too warm
at either end). United’s bound to try
to be on-time (of late their schedule norm
is picked to let the transit gap expand,
allowing tardy lift but timely land).

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How Nice

I thought I’d cancel, but she said to me,
“Allow yourself more time – you may get well.
Forget my cancellation policy,
and let’s both hope – you sure could use a spell
in this salon, to aid recovery
as soon as you shake off each viral cell.”
And so it is – it moves me to exult
to see this morning’s negative result.

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Anti-Planning

Embarking on a no-plan week is weird,
accustomed as I am to strategize.
The vivid line has not yet disappeared,
though black has paled to graytone in my eyes.
Tomorrow always carries some surprise,
but swabbing adds “prohibit” or “allow.”
Commitment isn’t possible or wise.
It’s curious to be uncertain now.

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Other Subjects

We’re tired of this virus, but nobody’s feeling ill,
and protocols have been relaxed a lot.
We’re still supposed to isolate 5 days and, sure, we will,
but I refuse to add another jot
of rhyming words and meter to what’s ailing me and them.
I’ll turn to watch the ceiling fan instead,
a ‘possum in the garden in the glare of 1 p.m.,
the loyal monkey waiting on my bed.

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Spring Surge

Two new infected candidates emerge,
who didn’t catch their Covid germs from me.
This really seems to be a vernal surge –
no rapid test is negative. So we
are isolating, homebound, separately,
who might as well be gathering as not,
except nobody has the energy
to interact. We’re languishing a lot.

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Zero + One

My temperature increased by three degrees,
which made me sleepy, chilly, unaware
of any appetite. Not painful, these
conditions, and I knew they signified
my body fighting off activities
engendered by coronavirus cells.
I gave full rein to my immunities.
I sneezed alone, and slept, and left repair
to what’s inside instead of pharmacies.

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Viral Reload

The virus interrupted me today.
I half-expected it, but even so
it killed a weekend plan to get away,
deflected looked-for lunch and had me throw
off dates I cherished making weeks ago.
It’s Covid but that’s not as dire now –
an inconvenience rather than a blow.
It sticks me where I flourish anyhow.

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Dream Brackets

The night was bracketed by reveries
co-starring men I never met before.
While drifting off, the hug spanned chest to knees,
the perfect pressure making me want more.
And just before I woke, I took a tour
of new acquaintance threatening no hurt.
Some problems almost solved and good rapport?
It felt adventurous to laugh and flirt.

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Empathology

I disagree with everyone, and yet,
they all seem close to perfect when I look
at challenges and stresses. I forget
each flaw if I consider how I’d brook
his pain and her neurosis. For I bet
confronted with their presents, I’d unhook
my any tether and no longer skirt
the balcony, resisting tempting hurt.

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