Easy Job

If I were the person who…

Sometimes, when the world is

collapsing

all around me, when my

fear

for my

boys, for my

dog,

overtake,

when the manuscripts

glare, languished,

and

unfinished,

the

good words

nowhere to be

found,

I imagine how easy my life might

be

if I were the person

who names

nail polish

colors.

This neon coral

Rooting for Fruity Tooty, this

daring fuchsia,

I’m Cheeky Piqued.

This

soothing blue

so hopefully labeled:

Smooth Sailing

Ahead.

Last night,

I broke the smallest chip of a pill

in half

and swallowed it down with

a warm sip of

water,

searching for

salvation.

A Little Dab’ll Do You

conjures the creamiest

pink, while

a faint

purple offers

Just a

Hint of Maude.

Last week, while those in

power

stripped our

rights,

a terminally-ill friend

grabbed hers,

choosing

her own path

to death

(lucky to live in a

place that does

allow

this).

Outside my window,