Poetry

At a time

Of uncertainty.

Remorse dwells deep.

Fear inculcates hatred.

Suspicion leads to anger.

Mistrust wipes out hope.

Yet hope remains.

It is stronger than most people realize.

It is a shell of a life.

Dedicated to others.

Nothing for myself.

I give and give and give.

Eventually I break.

I have nothing more to give.

They are okay.

I am not.

It will take several more years

before I begin to get better.

The struggle is still there.

I am still expected to give.

Now I take time for myself.

This routine was broken

and now it is time

to renew the energy

that was given by the break.

The pair broken up.

What should be whole

Is incomplete.

Once again

the dryer ate the other sock.

I read a short one page

That had the kid

Advertise a brand of cookies.

I remember him saying how

Some adults like to drink tea

When they eat them.

Where as I agreed with him

Milk is the best accompaniment

To any sweet treat.

There is a real world out there.

Reminders remind me.

Appointments still need to be done.

Virtual or a phone call.

People want to know if you are still alive.

Responsibilities never go away.

It stares at me.

It has no eyes.

Yet I know it sees me.

It laughs.

And smirks as I walk by.

It is not alive.

Yet I feel like it is hiding something.

Probably my sanity.

Spring sets in cabin fever.

Covid isolation

Amplifies this hidden desire.

The sun shines brightly

And all you see is the view

Of other people enjoying it.

Strange how life

Changes in such a short amount of time.

Technology and medical services

Are so advanced

We can know our diagnosis quicker.

Yet even that

Doesn’t stop the shock and horror.

Cape versus cloak.

Bell bottoms as opposed to skinny jeans.

Plaid or pastel?

Which is better

Is determined by opinion.

This opinion is made popular

By certain magazines.

I somehow doubt

They’ll ever make loincloths

A popular piece of clothing.

When circumstances

Obligate you to a chore

You would not wish upon anyone else

Sometimes all you end up doing

Is watching that someone

Try to get better

And finding yourself

Not able to do anything for them.

So instead you turn your attention

To other chores

Which need to be done

But are not as useful.