Surfacing

I’m re-entering Surfacing. Free diving – the extreme sport. Epic poem as metaphor. Really ready to reenter where it began. Flicking away the pretend – afraid to lose consciousness during this ascent. Rhyme scheme ottva rima (abababcc).

Lake shake (down)

Daily shelter-in place break. Home-made mask on my face. A brother approaches from the corner. “Excuse me. I was just wunder-run. How can you do that?” I stooped down to pick up Wally’s poop. Shit is shit & I know bull when I hear it. “I’m no bum, but I was wunder-run…See, I ran out …

Cracked

My hands are cracking from all this hand washing. Sensitive skin. We’ve been warned. Avoid (novel corona) entry points. Cool water is better. Hot doesn’t kill shit. Aquaphor plugs the cracks. Lanolin & petroleum. Big oil be damned! (divest) Skin is jacked if I resist.

Card Throw

I was hoping for the Ace. Hold on for the hold out. It be-es that way sometimes.

Small Craft

Small craft wind advisory. Lake becomes ocean. Still becomes undone. Distraction. Etch-a-sketch. Dissolve into cement. Careful not to disturb bird sanctuary behind the boom. My resolve a mirage. Wind does its rippling as wind often does. Lake contained for the most part. Boat too small for the weight of me. Sounds of sadness drop soft.

The Shield of Achilles (aka just us)

I stare wall-eyed. A man stoops on the sidewalk outside our corner liquor store. Spare change? “Sorry.” (my standard answer) CNBC squawks on about moral hazard. Dodges income inequality. Virus pricing. Wally & I walk away with two-twenty dollar bottles of liquid protection. The uneven-ness of it all not lost on (us).

Tee

Cut t-shirt. Bombay blue. Folded into length long enough to cover face. See CDC. Short enough to fold below ears. Rubber band is glue shielding me from calamity. Cut another one. Black. Calvin Klein repurposed. Underarm pocket cut free. No need for extra material holding inhales & exhales clotted with fog.

Body Snatchers

Invasion (of). Body snatchers. An elderly woman. Large trash bag wrapped around her head shopping. Is she breathing? Corona tessellation six apart. Common sense. We’re waiting for it to reappear. April fools, twenty twenty.