Mid morning,
she off to St. Thus and So’s
First, stretch
Rev clogged throat
Pox on jays outside window
Appease stomach gods with fizzy,
scatter head demons with tiny charms,
you dirty little Doubting Thomas
Next, find hidden bottles, empty and discard,
cross fingers, pledge to be sober
Thaw her favorite chuck roast,
collect trash from kitchen, bedroom and bath,
roll blue container next to garage door,
separate glass and paper according to her plan,
line up recycling bins on wall by street
Go room by room,
pick up scattered shoes, sandals and books,
carry off pile of notes to self,
folded newspapers, half read books,
stack in closet for later distribution
Make bed right, hospital corners,
puff pillows, close drawers and closets,
arrange furniture according to original design
Fire up Dutch oven, saute’ onions, minced garlic,
brown roast in olive oil, add ground cloves,
two bay leaves, one cup Cabernet,
fill house with smell of savories and dark gravy
Shower, brush teeth, align logs in fireplace
so one match will do
Wait then in best black mock turtleneck
on garden patio, wait an eternity,
hand write overdue letters to pass time,
petition sky to, “Heal me, dammit, heal me!”
Hope her prayers can close sucking wound
that keeps on sucking,
massage eyeballs,
sniff breath in cupped palms
Align belt buckle
Practice grin and greeting
Pose, legs crossed
Pick lint
Confess to self out loud,
“Bum”