Worm
June 15th, 2010
I.
A robin with a worm
On the patch of grass that is
Between the school and the parking lot-
He sees me coming
He knows when to quit
He drops the worm and flies away.
The worm, frantically wriggling on the sidewalk
Won’t wait for the robin’s return
But sets off quickly
For safety.
Only
He’s going the wrong way-
Toward the vast expanse of asphalt
Already heating in the morning sun.
II.
So stressed my vision is blurred
Driving south on 29
How dangerous is it to drive
With impaired vision?
I make it home and lie down
Pushing away the panic
I close my eyes.
Crackling waves flash against the darkness.
Dinner.
I will make dinner.
I stumble into the kitchen
Unsure if the mental re-boot has fixed my vision.
I think it has.
I haven’t cleaned out the back burner
Flames shoot up
Fueled by the spillage from a previous meal.
Oh no.
Do I really have to figure out now
How to use the fire extinguisher?
I blow hard instead.
The stress storm finally breaks
Into a raging headache.
I dip a cloth into my ice water
And enjoy the shocking coolness on my forehead.
I reach for the laptop
Wanting to write but
Worrying
That I am too much like that worm
In a hurry to get to nothing.