Control

The rain began this morning on the way to the car;
I tucked my silk tie into my shirt.

Last night we ran out of milk;
I can pick some up on the way home.

My blue pants split last week; I had them sewn.
The fit me better now.

My dog pays more attention to me than most people do;
I like him more every day.

People in my church just never stopped complaining;
I can sleep in on Sundays now.

The stream of terrible news trickles daily onto my doorstep;
The newsprint screams silently up the chimney.

The elevator fills up in front of me;
I’ll walk up to your room.

My knees resist each step up to your floor;
I’m getting used to their complaints.

My customers all know what is happening;
They call me occasionally; concerned.

The cards fill up your windowsill;
I make room for more.

The voicemails overflow into nothingness;
I delete most of them.

Your legs have circulation stimulators twenty-four hours a day;
I cover your cold feet with a blanket.

Your fever increases, less influenced by medication;
I ask the staff to increase the dosage.

The monitor over your head tells me what I don’t want to know;
I turn my chair towards the window.

The sun set again this evening, like always.
Smiling helps me no to cry so much.

I am someone else now.